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PREVIEW | Swallows face Sundowns test in top-of-the-table clash


News24
22 Jan 2021

This season's surprise package Swallows FC face their sternest test at defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a top-of-the-table clash with both teams aiming to protect their unbeaten record.

Last season's GladAfrica Championship winners have made their promotion to South Africa's top-flight look easy by going unbeaten so far this season after 12 rounds of fixtures.

Back-to-back Manager of the Month winner, Brandon Truter's charges have won seven matches while having drawn five to be tied with Sundowns on 26 points.

The Dube Birds have been inspired by journeyman midfielder-turned-striker Ruzaigh Gamildien who has fired in nine goals so far this season.

The 31-year-old in what has been a breakout season was also named Player of the Month for December/January alongside Truter.

For Sundowns, they have impressively maintained their high championship-winning standards despite a dramatic managerial change and personal tragedy.

New co-head coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena with the assistance of Steve Komphela have overseen an unbeaten start to the season.

This has come despite the squad being affected by the sad passing away of defenders Motjeka Madisha and Anele Ngcongca.

Both teams will now be aiming to lay down a marker with Swallows out to solidify their credentials as genuine title contenders with Sundowns aiming to give the in-form rookies a reality check.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 20: Ruzaigh G

Player to watch: (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Themba Zwane

Despite the impressive form of new duo Peter Shalulile and Kermit Erasmus, Mshishi remains Sundowns' most important player and has been in impressive scoring form with eight goals so far this season. Zwane is up there with the best match-winners in the PSL and will be aiming to prove the difference between the two sides.

Themba Zwane

Player to watch: (Swallows FC)

Ruzaigh Gamildien

Gamildien is in the form of his life with 9 goals in 12 matches and will be out to continue banging in the goals from all angles against the Sundowns defence. Having been on the score-sheet in the previous two fixtures the striker will again be aiming to prove his pedigree, this time against the champions.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 20: Ruzaigh G

What the coaches said: (Rhulani Mokwena)

"It's just another one of thirty matches and it's a game that we have to win." "Every game Sundowns plays to win. We play Barcelona, Sundowns plays to win, we play Black Leopards, Sundowns plays to win, we play Cape Town All Stars, Sundowns must play to win, we play Black Poison, Sundowns must play to win." Rhulani Mokwena

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 23: Co-coache

What the coaches said: (Brandon Truter)

"They are still league title contenders I maintain and they are our next game but we also know that they had an extra day to rest it plays a huge part people don't know the human body takes 72 hours to recover and they had 72 hours where we only had 48 hours. So, the pressure is on them, they should win it."Brandon Truter

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 19: Swallows

Source: News24

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