Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns host Swallows FC on Tuesday, are only five points clear of second-placed surprise package Richards Bay, and seven ahead of SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs.
Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.
Sundowns resumed their defence of the league title with an impressive 2-0 win over Swallows’ Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates, at home on Friday and they also stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Rhulani Mokwena, the Sundowns head coach, is anticipating a difficult match against a wounded Swallows side which is under the guidance of veteran tactician Ernst Middendorp.
“He [Middendorp] is a very good coach, one that I have huge respect for and I learn a lot from. Someone that for sure wants to beat us,” Mokwena said.
“But we have to recover really well and we know that it will be a very difficult game against Swallows mainly because of the leadership of Ernst Middendorp.
“However, I also don’t want to take away the incredible job done by Musa Nyatama in the interim. He is an incredible prospect for a coach. He is going to be one of the best in this country.”
Meanwhile, Swallows succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Richards Bay away on Saturday and they are now winless in their last two matches in the DStv Premiership.
As a result, Swallows remained 14th on the league standings – a point above the relegation zone and three points behind ninth-placed Cape Town City.
Middendorp has adopted a cagey approach ahead of their encounter against Sundowns as the Dube Birds look to bounce back to winning ways.
“All I can say is congratulations to coach Rhulani. However, I won’t discuss the match against Sundowns with the media,” Middendorp said briefly when speaking to Backpage Media.
“I can’t talk about how we are preparing for them and what I think of them or about my team. Thank you for calling me, but I can’t share much.”