Maritzburg United will be looking for their first win in 2015 when they host Kaizer Chiefs in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm
The Team of Choice are struggling for form and have not won an official match since the beginning of December 2014 when they last beat Orlando Pirates 2-1 in a league match.
Since then, however, Maritzburg have gone on a nine-match run without a win which has seen them lose five games and draw four times, their last result a 1-0 loss to the University of Pretoria this past weekend.
That string of results has seen the KZN side drop to 10th on the league table with 24 points from 21 games, only five points outside of the relegation zone.
Maritburg coach Steve Komphela is hoping that the fact his side are playing Chiefs, who lead the league standings, at home will provide enough inspiration for his team to spark a victory.
“We’ve gone through a terrible run, but I hope that because we are playing Chiefs the players will come to the party,” said Komphela.
“The beauty of the Chiefs match is that players rise to the occasion. It becomes more of an event than a football match.
“The only way is to remind them of all of the good work that they have done. We have exhausted all of the ways of not winning a match and the only thing left to do now is to win.
“We are right at the bottom of the pit and we can’t sink anymore. It can’t get any worse, the only way is up.”
Chiefs come into this match off the back of a 0-0 draw against Orlando Pirates in the big Soweto Derby on the weekend which sees them 11 points clear at the top of the table. The Amakhosi are on 31 points from 22 games, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns with 40 points from 21 games.
Chiefs have not had the best start to 2015 and have only managed to claim five points from a possible 12, but midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala says the team is inspired to continue searching for victory despite a goalless draw against Pirates on the weekend.
“The Soweto Derby was a tough match with both sides trying their best to overcome the other. Ultimately no one could lend the finishing touch,” said Tshabalala.
“However, despite the fact that we would have loved to have taken all the points home, the draw is a result we can live with.
“We are now focused on the next fixture against Maritzburg United.
“Steve Komphela’s side is another challenge that needs attention. It will not be easy to outsmart them at home, but the team is playing well and we are slowly building great momentum.”
In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and Chiefs have met in 17 league matches since the 2005/06 season. The Amakhosi have seven wins compared to four for United, while six matches have been drawn.
When the teams met earlier this season a Mandla Masango goal handed Chiefs a narrow 1-0 win.
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