Mthombeni declares Orbit a must-win game

Casric Stars head coach Bucs Mthombeni is banking on their home form to put them in a strong position in the Betway Premiership promotion playoffs when Orbit College FC visit the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Saturday, June 21.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM:

Stars are unbeaten in their first two games, having played out to a 0-0 draw with their Motsepe Foundation Championship rivals on June 11 before battling back from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City seven days later.

Sphamandla Mlilo's 97th-minute penalty was the first goal that the Mpumalanga outfit had scored in the playoffs after failing to find the back of the net in their four matches two years ago when their promotion challenge came up short.

Mthombeni's side finished the MFC campaign strongly on home soil, going undefeated in their last four outings and losing just three times all season in KwaMhlanga.

Orbit find themselves in a similar position, but they've yet to score any goals in the playoffs after their clash with the Citizens at the Cape Town Stadium on June 14 finished 0-0.

Their record against Stars doesn't make for good reading as Pogiso Makhoye's side have yet to come out on top in five meetings and they've only managed to score three goals in those head-to-head encounters, while conceding 11 in the process.

WHAT WAS SAID:

Casric Stars head coach Bucs Mthombeni:

"We will try by all means because we need Saturday's game to be a must-win, so that we put ourselves in a better position. Then the results will depend on Orbit's game against Cape Town City.

"It's gonna be difficult because Orbit is a team that moves the ball around, but we are gonna come at them like tigers and try to beat them.

"We've got a good record against them, but we're not gonna take that to our advantage, it's just that when we play at home, we play really well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Casric Stars - Decide Chauke was their best player on the pitch against City and can count himself unfortunate not to have gotten his name on the scoresheet. The winger forced Darren Keet to tip his shot over the crossbar in the opening minute and saw Siphamandla Dondolo clear his effort off the line on 74 minutes before sending an overhead-kick just over the goal in the 82nd minute.

Orbit College FC - Makhoye will be looking to the experienced Letsie Koapeng to get them over the line against Stars. The former Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates striker was heavily involved against City in the second half, creating a good chance for Ayanda Lukhele on 78 minutes before firing just wide of the right post on the volley two minutes later and glancing a header across the face of goal from a corner in the 85th minute.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

Matches - 5

Casric Stars wins - 3

Orbit College wins - 0

Draws - 2