The heartache is still very fresh for SuperSport United, who had to bow out of the MTN8 early at the hands of Golden Arrows. Abafana Bes’thende beat United 4-3 on penalties on the opening day of the season and now SuperSport are looking to land a blow of their own when they host the KwaZulu-Natal outfit in a DStv Premiership affair in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.
SuperSport captain Ronwen Williams says while Abafana Bes’thende were able to edge them out in KwaZulu-Natal, they will be up for a big surprise in the capital city, where United want to make the Lucas Moripe Stadium a fortress this season.
In the previous campaign, United proved to be no pushovers at home, collecting 28 points, only four behind defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns who were the best performing team at home last season. Matsatsantsa A Pitori won seven games at home, drew as much and only lost once .
“We are looking good coming off our last game (SuperSport drew their Premiership opener 0-0 at Cape Town City), it was a positive performance for us, we want to start our home games on a positive note. Last season we did quite well at home and we want to keep that going. It is going to be a tough one, they are not an easy team to play … we played them in the cup but now they are coming to our home and we need the three points,” said Williams.
“We have to come up with a game plan to beat them and we will go out there and fight. We are still disappointed in them knocking us out but that is in the past now, we are looking ahead to this one. We have analyzed them, we know what to do,” he added.
Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see when Matsatsantsa A Pitori will give a debut to new signing Buhle Mkhwanazi, who was not in the team for the previous games. Williams believes that the veteran defender will come in handy to help stabilise their defence.
Buhle is an experienced player and that is what we have been lacking in the last season, that kind of experience at the back. He has won it all. I have played with him in the national team, he is an awesome person, he’s experience will help the youngsters in the team, especially the centre-backs,” said Williams.
