PSL clubs' pre-season plans

IT FEELS like the 2012-2013 season has only just finished, but some PSL clubs will return to work next week in preparation for the next campaign.

Sowetan looks at when each team will begin their pre-season, with some getting a head start on others, while one club has yet to decide. Chippa United have not been included in our list as they are involved in the PSL promotion-relegation play-offs.

Ajax Cape Town - June 24

Ajax will return to pre-season without coach Muhsin Ertugral, who will miss the first three weeks as he works for Fifa at the Under-20 World Cup in his native Turkey. Ajax had been pencilled in for a number of high-profile friendly games in pre-season, but matches against Everton and Newcastle United have been scrapped. There is still one big game in the pipeline, though.

AmaZulu - June 24

Usuthu have been very active in the transfer market so far, so they will have plenty of new faces when they return to work. Coach Craig Rosslee will relish the opportunity to have a full pre-season with the team having been brought in after the start of the last campaign. They are likely to stay local.

BidVest Wits - June 24

Gavin Hunt will officially begin work with the squad when the team gathers for pre-season and though he will know most of the players, it is a chance for the fringe stars from last season to impress the new boss.

Bloemfontein Celtic - June 24

Celtic will head to Durban for part of their pre-season campaign, a change from the past three years when they went to the altitude of Gauteng. Coach Clinton Larsen has already confirmed they will face KwaZulu-Natal sides Maritzburg United, Lamontville Golden Arrows and AmaZulu while on tour.

Free State Stars - July 1

Stars are coming back later than most sides, but have only recently returned from a tour to China at the end of the last campaign. They will leave for Klerksdorp on July 8, where the players will go into camp with coach Steve Komphela.

Kaizer Chiefs - June 28

Football manager Bobby Motaung confirmed the team will be reporting back for duty later than most teams and likely without a few of their national team stars for the first week or so. The club is still finalising pre-season plans and is keeping these secret for now.

Lamontville Golden Arrows - June 24

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi spoke towards the end of last season of about his excitement at starting afresh in the new campaign and getting in a full pre-season with his club. He puts heavy emphasis on the work that is done before the season has started and has devised a programme he believes will see Abafana Bes'thende push for the top eight in the next campaign.

Mamelodi Sundowns - June 24

Sundowns will be heading to Ghana for part of their pre-season preparations, where they will take on top local sides Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko from July 12. Before that the team will go to their usual Polokwane base, where they have prepared for the past few PSL seasons. They are also scheduled to appear in the Lesotho King's Cup on July 27-28.

Maritzburg United - June 18

Maritzburg have decided to come back to work a week earlier than most sides, with coach Ernst Middendorp having devised a special six-week programme for the squad. He believes it will have the team in top shape for the new campaign.

Moroka Swallows - June 24

Swallows have decided against going away on tour, but will rather stay in Gauteng where they can arrange any number of top-quality friendly matches. "Local is lekker," coach Zeca Marques told Times Media.

Orlando Pirates - June 18

Pirates start their pre-season earlier than most sides as they will be on CAF Champions League duty from the middle of next month. With their national team stars only returning from Ethiopia yesterday, the squad will begin preparations with a depleted look about it.

Platinum Stars - June 20

Stars players will return for physical assessments next week, but will it be under the watchful eye of Cavin Johnson, with the coach tipped to leave? The players will be put through their paces at the world-class Bafokeng Sports Campus.

Polokwane City - unknown

Polokwane City say they have not yet decided when the players will be coming back to work, which is not a good start for the PSL new boys. Their participation in the top flight may be in doubt as court cases loom, but surely they should start preparing as if they will be involved. or for the new National First Division campaign at least.

SuperSport United - June 24

SuperSport may or may not have a new coach in place by the time they start their pre-season, but it will surely feel strange to some of their stars who are used to having Gavin Hunt leading training. As is tradition, they will head to Stellenbosch in Western Cape for part of their preparations.

University of Pretoria - June 24

AmaTuks did superbly to finish in the top eight last season and now want to build on that. Coach Steve Barker will be taking the team away to Nelspruit for a week during their pre-season, when he says he wants to get in some "solid" work with the side.