City looking to do a league ‘double’ over Sundowns
Benni McCarthy's Cape Town City are facing the prospect of completing a second consecutive Absa Premiership double over Mamelodi Sundowns when the sides meet tonight in a top-of-the-table clash at Athlone Stadium.
Percy Tau of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Thamsanqa Mkhize of Cape Town City (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
City defeated Downs 1-0 in the capital city in December, which was preceded by 1-0 and 2-1 wins last season.
City’s Thabo Nodada is expecting a fierce battle as a win for Masandawana would open the gap at the top of the Absa Premiership to seven points, while victory for the home side will reduce Downs’ lead to a single point.
“It is going to be a tough encounter since it is a top-of-the-table clash. It has always been a battle at the top with Sundowns. It was the same when we had them last season and in the first round as well. With games such as these, you don’t need extra motivation,” he said.
The 22-year-old believes their better recent form puts them in a slightly advantageous position over Pitso Mosimane’s men. City have won three in the last five, while the Brazilians have managed just two wins.
“On paper, yes, we look better which sort of works in our favour to a certain extent. But on the day it is not paper playing. The winners will be the team that is the best prepared. As much as we can deliberate about it, in the end it is going to be about who comes to the party,” said Nodada.
Midfield wizard Aubrey Ngoma could face his former employers for the first time after he turned his back on the Mother City for the capital city. Nodada says that although City are aware of Ngoma’s weaknesses and shortcomings, it would be dangerous to focus their game plan on him.
“It is tricky because he also knows our weaknesses. We can analyse one man and he can analyse the entire starting line-up. But coming up against him, we know him and he knows us and I feel it will be a good challenge … everybody will be fighting hard on the day.”
