PSL top eight hopefuls face off

Published Apr 18, 2015

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Johannesburg - Top-eight hopefuls Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United face off in their Premiership clash at Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo, on Sunday.

The Free State hosts come off one of the biggest upsets of the season when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 5-0 in their previous league encounter on the hallowed home turf of The Brazilians on Wednesday.

The result left Celtic in fifth spot on the log with 37 points with five games remaining.

Maritzburg, meanwhile, lie one spot out of the lucrative top eight in ninth position on 30 points from their 25 games in the league this season. In contrast to their opponents, Maritzburg come off a deflating 1-0 loss to Mpumalanga Back Aces in their midweek fixture.

In 17 matches played between the two sides since 2006/2007 league season, Celtic has managed two wins with the visitors having an upper-hand after winning five games, and ten matches have ended in a draw.

Celtic team manager John Maduka said Maritzburg had always been a tricky fixture for his team to navigate.

“Maritzburg United has always given us some tough times,” said Maduka.

“Our major challenge in this game will be dealing with complacency. Our technical team has done tremendously well even in the past dealing with psychological well-being of our players and I’m incredibly positive about their ability to prepare our team for various games”.

Following their thrashing of Sundowns, which also ended any glimmer of hope they had of winning the title, Maduka backed coach Clinton Larsen to build on that result.

“Clinton is a shrewd and tactically sound professional coach, strategically knowing how to counter attacks and subsequently attack with venom,” said Maduka.

“Our offensive style of play will see us winning this game; we are urging supporters to come in numbers to witness a team willing to play for them.”

ANA

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