“We need to grind out a win, which makes this fixture important for the both of us.”
BAROKA FC coach Wedson Nyirenda (pictured) has issued his players a similar challenge to the one Pitso Mosimane put forward to Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the two teams’ meeting at Peter Mokaba Stadium tonight.
Nyirenda, just like Mosimane, called on his players to grind out a result in what will be a tough match as both these teams are looking to find their groove.
The reigning PSL champions lost their last league match before scraping through to beat Chippa United in the Telkom Knockout quarter-finals. Bakgaga have had a miserable run and are without a win in their last six matches in all competitions.
It’s a desperate situation for the Zambian who was challenged to win the league title by a chairman who isn’t shy to fire coaches. But the fact Baroka will be facing Sundowns will lift Nyirenda and his players’ spirits.
“We are playing a team that hasn’t done well in their last two games. We haven’t seen much of them in their past two games, but they will come at us because they need the three points.
“We need to grind out a win, which makes this fixture important for the both of us.”
Sundowns will be a strong challenge for Baroka, with the Brazilians looking to close the five-point gap between them and league leaders Kaizer Chiefs. Baroka are meanwhile languish in 14th place on the league standings, four points ahead of Chippa United who are rooted at the bottom.
“We need strong mental strength from the players to play the next game after losing five games in a row in the league,” Nyirenda said.
Baroka’s biggest challenge has been their woeful display in front of goals. They have only scored six goals in the league. Only Chippa, AmaZulu and Maritzburg United have a worse goal return than them.
