Mamelodi Sundowns FORWARDER, Iqraam Rayners, understands the danger of facing a team fighting to escape the relegation at this time of the season, which is why he clearly states that they will not take Chippa United lightly.
Sundowns, who have won six Betway Premiership games in a row, will face Chippa in the Premiership on Friday at 7.30pm, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
This match between Sundowns and Chippa is played tomorrow, it was supposed to be played on April 28, but due to Sundowns’ stress due to their Premiership and Caf Champions League matches, they have decided to postpone their home match against Chippa.
This team from Pretoria, which is in contention for the Premiership title and is in the process of continuing to do well in the Champions League as it is in the semi-finals of this African football tournament, has seven players who were in the Bafana Bafana team that recently played against Panama in the friendly in Durban and Cape Town.
Those players are Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane, Khuliso Mudau, Jayden Williams and Themba “Mshishi” Zwane.
“It’s always difficult to face teams that are avoiding relegation at this time of the season. Their players are fighting to keep their jobs and the well-being of their families.
So we expect a tough game from Chippa, but the important thing for us is to keep the streak, and continue to win games.
We’re taking it one game at a time, which is what’s important for us right now in the remaining games,” said Rayners.
Chippa is among the teams fighting to leave the relegation zone, as it is in 13th place on the log with 20 points, separated by six points from Magesi FC who are at the bottom with 14.
The Sandawanas are in second place in the Premiership log with 50 points from 21 games, separated by a point from Orlando Pirates who are still sitting at the top with 51 from 20 games.
As they are one game behind the Pirates, if the Sandawanas win against Chippa tomorrow, they will be at the top of the Premiership log.
After tomorrow’s game, they will play against Durban City on Tuesday at 7.30pm at Chatsworth Stadium, Durban.
They will then head to Tunisia to face Esperance Tunis in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on April 12, before playing the second leg in Pretoria on April 18.
These teams from Pretoria, who have reached the semi-finals for three consecutive seasons in the Champions League, have the challenge of rewriting their history in this competition.
Last season they were knocked out by Egypt’s Pyramids in the finals.