THE Absa Premiership season starts on Friday but Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela has already had a go at Mamelodi Sundowns' loan policy.
The Team of Choice face Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld and Komphela's thin player stocks will be significantly hampered by his inability to field three players - Kwanda Mngonyama, Sibusiso Kumalo and Abel Mabaso - all loaned from the Brazilians.
"We are facing the same problem that faces most PSL sides as we will head into our first match of the season without a full-strength team because of work-permit issues. Our problem is also compounded by the [inability to field] three players we have acquired from Mamelodi Sundowns," Komphela said.
"Any team that plays Sundowns at any time of the season knows that certain players are not going to play, so you will find that you will be playing a weakened team without those Sundowns players and worse now, you are also missing your foreign players."
Maritzburg were one of the few sides that did not lose to Sundowns in the league last season, pushing them all the way in a 1-1 draw in the final match day of last season's campaign at home. Before that, they had the better of a 2-2 draw at Loftus Versfeld on December 20.
But Komphela is refusing to take any comfort in past results , especially in the light of Sundowns' shock MTN8 exit on Saturday, saying that Pitso Mosimane's side may look to embarrass someone after an unflattering performance against an inspired Platinum Stars.
"You can't read much into what happened on Saturday and what you will find is that they could be a bit more serious on Friday.
"Maybe they went into the game thinking that they were playing against a small team because other teams do tend to think like that, which is a big mistake," Komphela said.
ABSA PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES:
Friday: Sundowns vs Maritzburg, Loftus, (8pm)
Saturday: AmaTuks vs Polokwane City, Tuks Stadium (3pm); FS Stars vs Chiefs, Charles Mopeli Stadium (3pm); Chippa United vs Platinum Stars, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (6pm); Pirates vs Swallows, Orlando Stadium (8.15pm); SuperSport vs Bidvest Wits, Lucas Moripe Stadium (8.15pm)
Sunday: AmaZulu vs Ajax, Moses Mabhida Stadium (3pm); Celtic vs Black Aces, Free State Stadium (3pm)
Steve slams Downs policy
THE Absa Premiership season starts on Friday but Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela has already had a go at Mamelodi Sundowns' loan policy.
The Team of Choice face Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld and Komphela's thin player stocks will be significantly hampered by his inability to field three players - Kwanda Mngonyama, Sibusiso Kumalo and Abel Mabaso - all loaned from the Brazilians.
"We are facing the same problem that faces most PSL sides as we will head into our first match of the season without a full-strength team because of work-permit issues. Our problem is also compounded by the [inability to field] three players we have acquired from Mamelodi Sundowns," Komphela said.
"Any team that plays Sundowns at any time of the season knows that certain players are not going to play, so you will find that you will be playing a weakened team without those Sundowns players and worse now, you are also missing your foreign players."
Maritzburg were one of the few sides that did not lose to Sundowns in the league last season, pushing them all the way in a 1-1 draw in the final match day of last season's campaign at home. Before that, they had the better of a 2-2 draw at Loftus Versfeld on December 20.
But Komphela is refusing to take any comfort in past results , especially in the light of Sundowns' shock MTN8 exit on Saturday, saying that Pitso Mosimane's side may look to embarrass someone after an unflattering performance against an inspired Platinum Stars.
"You can't read much into what happened on Saturday and what you will find is that they could be a bit more serious on Friday.
"Maybe they went into the game thinking that they were playing against a small team because other teams do tend to think like that, which is a big mistake," Komphela said.
ABSA PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES:
Friday: Sundowns vs Maritzburg, Loftus, (8pm)
Saturday: AmaTuks vs Polokwane City, Tuks Stadium (3pm); FS Stars vs Chiefs, Charles Mopeli Stadium (3pm); Chippa United vs Platinum Stars, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (6pm); Pirates vs Swallows, Orlando Stadium (8.15pm); SuperSport vs Bidvest Wits, Lucas Moripe Stadium (8.15pm)
Sunday: AmaZulu vs Ajax, Moses Mabhida Stadium (3pm); Celtic vs Black Aces, Free State Stadium (3pm)
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