Matsatsantsa seeking third win in four meetings with Thwihli Thwahla

SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt will be looking to end a "frustrating" run of form against Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Matsatsantsa went into the mid-season break as strong contenders to finish runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership after winning nine of their opening 16 matches.

But a gruelling CAF Confederation Cup schedule took its toll on Hunt's young squad and they've struggled to get going in the second half of the season.

A 2-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 27 April left the Tshwane giants without a win in 2024 and down in seventh place, 11 points adrift of the final CAF Champions League berth.

Thwihli Thwahla have been inconsistent this year, winning three, drawing two and losing four of their games since the league resumed in February.

John Maduka's side saw a two-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Orlando Pirates on 28 April and they have a fight on their hands to qualify for the MTN8.

The KZN outfit find themselves four points outside the top eight in 13th position, although they do have a game in hand on the teams around them in the standings.

Maduka admits the Buccaneers capitalised on their mistakes in Pietermaritzburg and feels his players have been caught napping far too often this season.

WHAT WAS SAID

SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt

"It's very frustrating because we've got young players. We had seven Diski players playing so you can scream and shout but that's the way the club is. That's what we're trying do, so we're learning the hard way.

"We've been in a good position the whole season but obviously we have dropped right off and we understand it. With our squad and playing in Africa with three North African teams, it took a lot out of us.

"There has been lot of traveling this year and eventually it catches up with you. In saying that, the team is working hard, they are trying and the attitude is fantastic. I thought we were good against Chiefs at times on a very difficult pitch."

Royal AM head coach John Maduka

"We still continued pushing in the first half. Second half you can't fault the boys for the effort. It's only that we made mistakes and you know a team like this (Pirates), with the quality that they have, you make mistakes, they punish you.

"Every time we go to bed, we sleep, that's where we find ourselves conceding the goals because we're a team that plays to go forward and they make sure that they wait for those opportunities, that you make a mistake, they punish you."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Royal AM - Maduka has put his faith in Sedwyn George to lead the line this year after he featured just seven times in the first half of the season.

The 32-year-old striker got off the mark in a 2-0 win over Cape Town City on 10 March and he scored again against Polokwane City on 20 April, but missed a glorious opportunity to get on the scoresheet against Pirates after he blazed over from seven yards out.

SuperSport United - Hunt has tried to manage Bradley Grobler's minutes this season, but a small, stretched squad has made it difficult.

The 36-year-old striker started the last two games after coming off the bench in the previous two encounters and he somehow struck the crossbar in an unmarked position from just four yards out in the loss to Chiefs, which would have been his ninth goal of the campaign.

HEAD-TO-HEAD (Last five DStv Premiership meetings)

Matches - 5

Royal AM wins - 2

SuperSport wins - 2

Draws - 1