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Santos take aim at Tycoons
Platinum Stars host Santos in an Absa Premiership encounter on Wednesday evening. “We would like to win our first home game this season,” stresses Tycoons coach Miguel Gamondi. The match will be played at Mafikeng’s Mmabatho Stadium (kick-off at 7.30pm).
Games between Platinum Stars and Santos are usually closely contested affairs, although each team also has a habit of winning when it concerns a home match. It would mean that the odds favour the Tycoons to beat Santos on Wednesday, but, to put things in perspective, Stars have not won a home match this season.
Stars are presently in ninth position on the Absa Premiership log, one position ahead of Santos. Both teams won their last fixture. “We gained a lot of confidence by beating Bay United 3-0,” acknowledges Stars coach Gamondi. “Especially because it was an away game and United have been doing so well this season by beating several top sides like Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.”
However, the Lions of the North have lost their first two home matches, against BidVest Wits 0-1 and SuperSport United 1-3, and will want to make up for it against Santos.
Stars will be without their suspended defender Joseph Mkalipa. The side have been travelling around the North West Province for their home matches of late and Wednesday’s game will be played in Mafikeng.
“We appreciated the fan support we got at Potchefstroom’s Olen Park recently,” remarks Gamondi. “By playing at different venues in the North West, we try to mobilise the soccer lovers in the province to come and stand behind the team.”
Obviously, Stars are trying to create a vibe in the same way that Bloemfontein Celtic did in the Free State.
The Tycoons management furthermore confirmed this week that Royal Bafokeng Sports Holdings are now 100% owners of the side after having bought the remaining 49% of the shares from managing director Larry Brookstone and co-director Joseph Mapfulagasha. “As a team, we have to see this move in a positive way,” reacts Stars’ Argentinean coach.
Santos, meanwhile, travel to Mafikeng on the back of a 2-0 win against Free State Stars. “We played well in that match,” confirms Santos’ experienced midfielder Tyron Arendse. “We showed some great attitude as well.”
The People’s Team did not have a great start to the season after finishing 2007/08 season in an excellent third position on the Absa Premiership log. But this season, Santos have only won two of their five league matches played so far.
“We have a lot of new players,” explains Arendse, who joined Santos from Mamelodi Sundowns during the off-season. “It meant that our coach, David Bright, had to change his system a bit and he also had to find the right mixture again.”
“What added to our sloppish start to the season,” continues Santos’ midfielder “is the lack of rhythm in the league fixtures. We play one week and, accordingly, we don't have a game planned for two or three weeks.” “We have our eye on a point,” admits Santos’ Arendse, “even though we would like to keep our momentum going. The league is very tight in the middle of the log and one or two wins after each other would mean that we are back where we belong; close to the top.”
