Mamelodi Sundowns will be out to end the year in style when they visit Richards Bay at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday December 28.
Sundowns are on a six-match unbeaten run, which includes three straight 1-0 wins, under new coach Miguel Cardoso.
The Brazilians head into the match top of the table on 27 points from 10 matches, three more than Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand, and can end the year at the summit if they avoid defeat against the Natal Rich Boys.
What’s more, they will open a six-point lead over Pirates with a win, before the Buccaneers play on Sunday against another struggling side in Magesi FC.
Form guide
Sundowns have been on a roll, having won five games without conceding, while their six-match unbeaten run includes four wins and two draws, when they have kept five clean sheets.
That is a formidable defensive record that struggling Richards Bay will have a tough time against even if they will be playing at home.
Richards Bay will, however, be encouraged by Sundowns’ recent run of results which have seen them win by one-goal margins, meaning staying tight at the back could yield a point or even all three if they can get a goal on the counterattack.
The Natal Rich Boys come into the match high on confidence after beating Golden Arrows 1-0 in their last match on December 14, a result that ended their five-match losing run.
However, their top flight future still hangs in the balance as they are 15th on the 16-team log on eight points from 11 games, just two better than bottom-placed Magesi FC.
Head-to-head
History suggests that Richards Bay stand no chance against Sundowns as they have lost all their six meetings with the PSL champions.
Sundowns won 1-0 both home and away last season and in the six matches, the Brazilians did not concede in five, the exception being in February 2023 when they won 3-2.
Team news
Sundowns head into the match without the suspended duo of Khuliso Mudau and Ronwen Williams, the latter having been sent off against AmaZulu on Tuesday, while they will also miss injured Themba Zwane, Siyabonga Mabena, Rivaldo Coetzee, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Marcelo Allende, Mosa Lebusa and Reyaad Pieterse.
Richards Bay, meanwhile, have no injury or suspensions but have released Siyethemba Sithebe and Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Thabang Sibanyoni.
What have they said?
Cardoso is hoping for some improvements from his players after a less than impressive display against AmaZulu.
“It was a tough match [against AmaZulu]. I was not happy with the rhythm we had in the first half. Our ball circulation was too slow. We needed to improve our tempo and that’s why we made three substitutions at halftime to inject more energy into the game,” Cardoso said.
“We created several scoring opportunities throughout the match. I knew we had players capable of making a significant impact. The introduction of Letlhaku Kutlwano, Peter Shalulile, and Thapelo Morena certainly added a spark.”
Time and where to watch?
The match will kick off at 15.30 at the King Zwelithini Stadium and will be live on SuperSport TV (SS202) and SABC 1.
Sundowns predicted XI
Onyango, Morena, De Reuck, Khoza, Lunga, Modiba, Mokoena, Mkhulise, Kodisang, Ribeiro, Rayners
