Malajila faces late fitness test
Maritzburg United are to give key striker Cuthbert Malajila a late fitness test before Friday’s Absa Premiership match in Port Elizabeth against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Malajila has an ankle problem sustained in training two week ago and was not used on Tuesday when Maritzburg drew 0-0 at AmaZulu in their first match of the second part of the season.
Coach Middendorp said he could have used the Zimbabwe striker but chose rather to give him a little more rest.
But now the club still want a guarantee of his fitness and will put him through his paces before making a final decision on his availability.
The 27-year-old Malajila has eight goals already for Maritzburg in the league this season and has emerged as their key player of a much improved campaign.
Maritzburg should also have Mohamed Awal back in their line-up.
He was part of Ghana’s squad at the African Nations Cup and played as a central midfielder last weekend at the same venue when Ghana lost to Mali in the third and fourth place play-off match.
Awal went back to Ghana with the team on Sunday and then returned directly to Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Middendorp said he would be using fullback Ruben Cloete after the end of his two match ban for a sending off against Orlando Pirates in December.
