Daily Sun (April 4 2014) - STUART BAXTER believes the pressure is on Downs . . .Pitso Mosimane believes his side can deliver the goods . . . AND THE NATION BELIEVES THIS COULD BE THE MATCH OF THE SEASON!
The two big bulls of the Premier Soccer League, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, lock horns in their top-of-the-table Absa Premiership showdown at FNB Stadium tomorrow night at 8.15pm.
And if Amakhosi's Baxter is to be believed, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Mosimane's Sundowns.
"It's last chance saloon for Sundowns. They have to beat us to stay in the race," said Baxter.
"Even if we lose we are not out of the title race.
"We still have plenty of points to play with."
Chiefs moved three points clear at the top of the Premiership when they defeated bottom club Golden Arrows 2-0, also at FNB Stadium, on Wednesday night.
Amakhosi, the defending league champions, head the standings with 52 points, followed by the Brazilians on 49. Chiefs have seven matches while Downs have six to play as the league chase has turned into a tight race.
Mosimane is confident his side can produce the goods and win their sixth successive league match.
"Chiefs are not there yet," he warned.
"I'm taking it game by game. We've won at Orlando Stadium and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium recently and believe we can do it against Chiefs at FNB."
He said neither of the two teams can guarantee they will win their remaining matches.
Both coaches - both former Bafana Bafana coaches - agree on one thing. The season is a long way from being over and a lot can still happen.
"This is far from over," said Mosimane. There will be hiccups here and there."
But he said his team was strong and ready to play many more matches.
There was good news from both camps yesterday. Amakhosi skipper and star goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has recovered from an ankle injury that has side-lined him for almost a month. Zimbabwean international striker Knowledge Musona, who missed the Arrows clash also with an ankle injury, is also back at training and like Khune, is determined to play.
Downs will have their star Zimbabwean forward Khama Billiat back from a lengthy injury.
With an expected capacity crowd this clash has all the ingredients of another classic.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 297,614 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 4th Quarter 2013) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.
Issued through the Politicsweb iService
