Kaizer Chiefs take on Stellenbosch FC while Orlando Pirates will do battle against Cape Town City today. SoccerClub writer DYLAN APPOLIS has picked out five players to watch ahead of the Soweto giants’ clashes against the Cape outfits.
The Glamours Boys will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings when they Stellenbosch FC to the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates, meanwhile are determined to secure their first win since the restart when they travel to Loftus Versfeld Stadium to face the Citizens, having played to four consecutive draws in the league.
Here is five players to watch ahead of today’s fixtures:
Lebogang Manyama (Kaizer Chiefs)
Lebogang Manyama has been one of Amakhosi’s standout performers in this campaign and has played a key role in the midfield for Amakhosi since the restart of the current campaign.
The 29-year-old has already managed to bag seven goals and 10 assists from 29 appearances across all competitions for Amakhosi this season.
The former Cape Town City skipper could play a crucial role in helping his side walk away with maximum points against Stellies as they look to move one step closer to ending their trophy drought.
Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates)
The Buccaneers were without Thebinkosi Lorch for their last two matches after he served a two-game suspension due to breaking team protocols, but Josef Zinnbauer named him among the substitutes for their clash against Baroka and came on at half time to replace Fortune Makaringe.
Lorch showed a glimpse of his former self as he gave the Baroka backline trouble down the right wing, but the form Absa Premiership Player of the Season failed to fully impose himself on the game, despite squaring a lethal ball into the area which nearly led to a goal.
However, the former Absa Premiership Player of the Year could return to the starting line up for Pirates as they look to break their duck by winning their first game since the resumption of the league.
Samir Nurkovic (Kaizer Chiefs)
The Serbian striker has played a big role in Amkahosi’s race for the league title this season and is currently the club’s top goal-scorer, having already netted 14 goals and assisted five from 27 appearances across all competitions.
Nurkovic has been instrumental in front of goal and is the first Amakhosi player to score at least 10 goals since Bernard Parker in 2014.The lanky striker will be hoping to impose himself on Stellies and find the back of the net as he aims to reach the ’20-goal’ mark this season.
Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates)
Gabadinho Mhango hit the ground running this season in the Absa Premiership and has already bagged 14 goals in 24 league appearances, but hasn’t found the back of the net in his last six games, having last scored during their 2-1 win over Chippa United on 1 February 2020 when he bagged a brace.
As the race for the golden boot heats up with Highlands Park forward Peter Shalulile now joint top scorer with Mhango, the Pirates attacker will be highly motivated to find the net and stretch his goal tally at the summit of the scorer table.
Khama Billait (Kaizer Chiefs)
The Zimbabwean international is currently enduring his worst season since arriving in the PSL back in 2010, having only managed to score one goal and provide two assists from 2 appearances in all competitions as he continued to battle with a niggling injury throughout this campaign.
With five games remaining, Billiat could yet find his form to help guide Amakhosi to their first league title since the 2014–15 season.
