Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Free State Stars are fired-up to embarrass Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Welkom Stadium tomorrow in their first Absa Premiership match at home.

Despite signing several great local and international players and new coach Owen Da Gama, Ea Lla Koto are still to taste a win in an official game this season.

Their new acquisitions include the Ghanaian pair of Jonathan Mensah and David Telfer, Mpho "Sms" Maleka and Bruyn Senokoane.

Stars have lost their two opening games to Tshwane giants, Mamelodi Sundowns and reigning Premiership kings SuperSport United.

It all started with a 1-0 defeat by Sundowns in the inaugural MTN8 match and went on to suffer a similar loss to Matsatsantsa a Pitori in their first leg clash.

But Rantsi Mokoena, Stars' brand manager, said they can't afford to get their new season on home soil off to a bad start by losing.

Zwelethu Mzolo, Arrows' publicist, said they were gearing themselves up for a tough game. He added that the plan was to keep the winning form.

Manqoba Mngqithi, Arrows' coach, has assembled a strong team during the off-season to challenge for the honours.

This 3pm game is expected to be closely contested in the engine room where Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows) will come up against Duncan Lechesa (Free State Stars).

Arrows and Stars met twice last season where they drew 1-1 in the first round in Durban.

Stars won the second round clash 2-1 in Bethlehem.