9 January 2008

Back to business for Team of Choice

Maritzburg United play their first match of 2009 when they face Moroka Swallows at the Olympia Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

With a new-look side, Maritzburg struggled for results leading up to the Christmas break, but the team has been hard at work during the break trying to fine-tune the understanding amongst the players, many of whom have only been playing together for three or four months.

While coach Gordon Igesund has not promised miracles, he has promised that his side will be ready to sweat blood on the field as they look to turn their fortunes around and he has called on the fans to rally behind the side and act as an extra man.

On Sunday, with the game against the Birds taking place in Rustenburg, United will not however have their home fans to call upon, but the effort is sure to be there as the team looks to kick start off 2009 on a positive note.

They come up against a Swallows side, who for all their endeavours, club history and big-name signings find themselves in 11th position on the table with 19 points from their 14 games (United have 13 points from 13 games).

The Birds lost their last game of 2008, to Wits, and will thus also be motivated to return to winning ways.

Key players for the Jo’burg side are skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa, who pulls the strings from the middle of the park, as well as striker David Radebe, formerly of Kaizer Chiefs, who will be ably assisted by the young Phumelele Bhengu.

The likes of Fabian McCarthy, Edward Malinga and keeper Greg Etafia also provide Swallows with a tough to break defence, but Igesund and his men will no doubt be plotting ways to overcome this.

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