Crunch time in KZN

KWAZULU-NATAL soccer fans will be spoiled for choice this weekend when two local teams - AmaZulu and Maritzburg United - host Platinum Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic, respectively, tomorrow.

Usuthu, who are 11th on the Absa Premiership log, will face Stars at Moses Mabhida Stadium (3.30pm), while the 14th-placed Team of Choice host Celtic at Harry Gwala Stadium (8.15pm).

Both sides badly need a win to move away from the danger zone.

Usuthu's fortunes seem to have changed for the better as they have not lost a game in their past three matches.

But the same cannot be said of United, who have been able to register only one point in the past three matches and team captain Shu-aib Walters knows that they have to start collecting points.

United's downfall has been their leaky defence.

"If you look at the goals we've let in, many of them are silly mistakes, things that can be rectified and we are doing just that," Walters said.

• Wits spokesperson George Mogotsi says the absence of suspended captain Tefu Mashamaite will not stop them from defeating Vasco da Gama, whom they host at Milpark on Sunday at 3.30pm. The Students are in high spirits after their 2-1 victory over SuperSport United in midweek.