Swallows coach Brandon Truter has described Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila as the form team in the country at the moment.
The Limpopo-based outfit appear to have turned the corner after winning their past three matches without conceding a goal. Truter said he has been monitoring their development since they were drawn against them in the Nedbank Cup second round.
The Birds defeated TTM 2-0 in a league game in Venda in November. But a lot has changed since then.
The two teams will do battle in the Ke Yona second round at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow at 6pm.
Thabo Matlaba, Keegan Ritchie and Wandisile Letlabika might miss the game due to injury and medical reasons. Defender Junaid Sait is suspended after he got a red card in the game against Cape Town City last week. Truter hinted that he could make as many as five forced changes to his regular starting line-up against TTM.
“Let's be honest, TTM are not the same team that we beat 2-0 in Venda. Their players look fresh, energised under their new management. They are the form team in the country and are high on confidence. They are the favourites to win this game,” said Truter at a virtual press conference yesterday.
“We have to work on our mental aspect. We are playing an unpredictable team.”
But the Birds are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions, even though they have drawn their past five league matches in a row. Truter said it is not fair to compare them to the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as they are still finding their feet in a new league.
“We would like to turn the draws into wins but people forget we drew against Pirates, SuperSport United, Cape Town City and Sundowns away from home. Not many teams can do that,” he said.
Second-round fixtures
Tomorrow: Cape Town All Stars v Cape Town Spurs, Parow Park, 3pm; TTM v Swallows, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 6pm.
Saturday: Leopards v AmaZulu, Thohoyandou, 3pm; Maritzburg v Pirates, Harry Gwala Stadium, 6pm.
Sunday Sporting v Richards Bay, Mbombela Stadium, 3pm; Pretoria Callies v JDR Stars, Lucas Moripe Stadium, 3pm; Chippa v Cape Town City, Nelson Mandela Bay, 6pm.
'They are not the same team we beat 2-0'
Truter wary of resurgent TTM
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Swallows coach Brandon Truter has described Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila as the form team in the country at the moment.
The Limpopo-based outfit appear to have turned the corner after winning their past three matches without conceding a goal. Truter said he has been monitoring their development since they were drawn against them in the Nedbank Cup second round.
The Birds defeated TTM 2-0 in a league game in Venda in November. But a lot has changed since then.
The two teams will do battle in the Ke Yona second round at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane tomorrow at 6pm.
Thabo Matlaba, Keegan Ritchie and Wandisile Letlabika might miss the game due to injury and medical reasons. Defender Junaid Sait is suspended after he got a red card in the game against Cape Town City last week. Truter hinted that he could make as many as five forced changes to his regular starting line-up against TTM.
“Let's be honest, TTM are not the same team that we beat 2-0 in Venda. Their players look fresh, energised under their new management. They are the form team in the country and are high on confidence. They are the favourites to win this game,” said Truter at a virtual press conference yesterday.
“We have to work on our mental aspect. We are playing an unpredictable team.”
But the Birds are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions, even though they have drawn their past five league matches in a row. Truter said it is not fair to compare them to the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as they are still finding their feet in a new league.
“We would like to turn the draws into wins but people forget we drew against Pirates, SuperSport United, Cape Town City and Sundowns away from home. Not many teams can do that,” he said.
Second-round fixtures
Tomorrow: Cape Town All Stars v Cape Town Spurs, Parow Park, 3pm; TTM v Swallows, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 6pm.
Saturday: Leopards v AmaZulu, Thohoyandou, 3pm; Maritzburg v Pirates, Harry Gwala Stadium, 6pm.
Sunday Sporting v Richards Bay, Mbombela Stadium, 3pm; Pretoria Callies v JDR Stars, Lucas Moripe Stadium, 3pm; Chippa v Cape Town City, Nelson Mandela Bay, 6pm.
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