Cape Town City will be out to extend their unbeaten run to four matches in the Absa Premiership when they play host to Maritzburg United at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm.

The Citizens return to the KwaZulu-Natal province following a 2-2 draw against Golden Arrows last time out, with goals from Ayanda Patosi and Thabo Nodada securing a share of the spoils for the West Cape outfit.

Benni McCarthy’s troops have been forced to move their home fixture to an alternative venue due to the unavailability of a suitable venue within the ‘Mother City’ - a pressing issue that has gained widespread media coverage.

As a result, Maritzburg will be ‘visitors’ in their own province with the Team of Choice hopeful that this will stand them in good stead as they eye a change in fortunes.

The KZN outfit have gone eight league matches without a win after they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Bidvest Wits. Maritzburg have managed just five goals in 10 matches and last hit the back of the net in a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu in mid-September.

Fadlu Davids, who has watched his side struggle since a rip-roaring start to the campaign, will be looking to lead his men to a second away win of the season with Maritzburg having claimed six points from five matches on their travels.

The Citizens won the corresponding fixture last season 3-2, while the reverse fixture at the Harry Gwala Stadium ended in a 1-0 triumph for the Team of Choice.

Predicted Starting XI:

Cape Town City: Stephens; Mkhize, Fielies, Johannes, Seedat, Matsi,Nodada, Masina, Ngoma, Patosi, Moseamedi.

Maritzburg United: Ofori; Sanoka, Xulu, Fransman, Weidlich, Shandu, Kunene, Atouba, Mokate, Mekoa, Rusike.

Head-to-Head statistics:

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers
2016/17 City 3-2 Maritzburg Majoro, Masina, Manyama; Onyango, Rusike
2016/17 Maritzburg 1-0 City Lentjies

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)

Home
P W D L GF GA
City 1 1 0 0 3 2
Maritzburg 1 1 0 0 1 0

Away
P W D L GF GA
City 1 0 0 1 0 1
Maritzburg 1 0 0 1 2 3

Total
P W D L GF GA
City 2 1 0 1 3 3
Maritzburg 2 1 0 1 3 3

What They Said:

Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy:

“It is with great sadness to my players‚ this club‚ our fans‚ and all the football loving people of Cape Town that our home match versus Maritzburg United will be played away from home‚ in Durban,” said McCarthy in a scathing assessment of the lack of venues in Cape Town. To play that crucial game in the oppositions province is quite frankly hurtful and embarrassing.

He added: “My boys showed some fighting spirit as we came back to draw against Golden Arrows [last time out]. It looked like it was lost and we were out. We were three points down, and I’m happy with the fact that the boys were able to come back. It was good fighting spirit.”

Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids:

“We can’t rely on Evans Rusike for all our goals,” said Davids who’s troops haven’t scored a goal in 11 hours of Premiership football. We take credit as a team for having the best defensive record in the league, and we have to take not-scoring-goals also as a team – not only the strikers.

“We have to talk about our attacking guys, our midfielders, even defenders at set pieces. As a team we must take responsibility and we won’t put it on our striker’s shoulders.

“Each and every player must go onto the field say ‘I’m scoring today, or at least I’m assisting today’. With that mindset, goal orientated, you [we] can get the end result [in our next game].”

Key Players:

Cape Town City

Aubrey Ngoma: The return to action of the former Orlando Pirates winger will come as a timely boost for the Citizens who have missed his creative spark down the flank. Lebogang Manyama might have received a lot of the acclaim last season, but Ngoma was every bit as influential during their success in the previous campaign. He could well prove to be the missing piece to Benni’s puzzle.

Thabo Nodada: The hard-running, dynamic midfielder proved in the previous outing that he not just plays an important role in breaking down the opposition attacks, but that he too can pop up with a vital goal when needed. Coming up against a Maritzburg side eager to snap a long running winless streak, Nodada could well play a vital cameo in adding to their frustrations.

Maritzburg United

Evans Rusike: Following what was a blistering start to the season for the Maritzburg marksman, he has gone rather goal-shy since and it shows as the club continue to struggle for goals. Fadlu Davids will be hoping that his star man will finally found his scoring boots as they aim to snap their goal drought.

Yazid Atouba: Maritzburg need goals and the Cameroonian playmaker’s creative qualities will be called upon as the KZN outfit go in search of the back of the net. While there is no doubt about their defensive strength, it is in attack that the Team of Choice are lacking - it is up to Atouba and Co to come to the party.