Highlands Park host Maritzburg United at the Dobsonville stadium on Saturday afternoon in a crucial PSL clash.
Highlands Park and Maritzburg United are both suffering a torrid time in the PSL’s bio-bubble with neither side managing to earn a victory as yet after almost three weeks of play.
Maritzburg United’s PSL top three hopes are fading away fast while Highlands Park on the hand are seeing their top eight hopes slip away as well.
Highlands Park vs Maritzburg United: Previous PSL meetings
Highlands Park and Maritzburg United have met on seven previous PSL occasions with both teams walking away with two win each while the remaining three games have ended in a draw.
Highlands Park head coach Owen Da Gama has gotten the better of Maritzburg United’s Eric Tinkler on two out of their four PSL meetings in the past while Tinkler has come out triumphant on one occasion.
Highlands Park vs Maritzburg United: PSL team news
Highlands Park will be without midfielders Makhehleni Makhaula and Mlungisi Mbunjana due to suspension while they’ll be looking to star attacker Knox Mutizwa for the goals. Mutizwa already has 14 PSL goals this season and is tied with Orlando Pirates Gabadinho Mhango atop the Golden Boot standings.
Maritzburg United will be without Mxolisi Kunene for this afternoon’s PSL clash due to a long-term knee injury while experienced defender Nazeer Allie misses out through suspension.
Shalulile’s form key for Park
Highlands Park head coach Owen Da Gama admitted that things haven’t been going well for his side since the resumption of football in the country however Peter Shalulile has been a shining light for them in their darkest hour.
“It is understandable. It’s a difficult period for everybody, you can see some of the PSL results that are coming. You can say it’s shocking results. I’m proud of the boys,” Highlands Park head coach Owen Da Gama said of the clash against Maritzburg United.
“We have always said that a lot of goals would be scored from set-pieces during this period. We have been working a lot on our set-pieces. I’m happy that Peter scored that goal against Polokwane. I’m so happy for him. We need him to keep pushing on.”
Every point is like gold – Tinkler
Maritzburg United head coach Eric Tinkler claims he’ll be happy with any PSL point collected by his team during this period where teams are fighting for positions across the log standings.
“They are all tough though, every single game right now is tough. I said this to the press the other day, every point right now is gold.” Maritzburg United’s Tinkler told Kick-Off.
“Because there are teams that are obviously fighting for relegation, there are teams that are looking to fight for survival and others to finish in the top eight. Certain teams that you thought were dead prior to lockdown, all of a sudden Cape Town City and Stellenbosch have climbed the table.
“These teams have come from nowhere in the PSL bio-bubble, they are putting pressure on other teams that were there in seventh and eighth.”
Highlands Park vs SuperSport United: Kick-off time, where to watch
PSL action between Highlands Park and Maritzburg United gets underway at 13:30 on Saturday afternoon. The game will unfortunately not be televised.
