Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler is looking for a third successive win when they host Baroka in the DStv Premiership this weekend, and could give a Bafana Bafana international his club debut in the game.
With nine matches left for them to play, fifth-placed City, who are on 33 points, are very much part of the pack still in the race for second place.
They host bottom-of-the-table Baroka on Sunday evening, and a victory could see City, move even further up the table.
Tinkler said that after a few days off during the international break, the team has had a good build-up to the game.
“So ja, we gave the players off for three days last week, because obviously the international break,” Tinkler told the club’s media department.
“Hugo went to Angola, to play for Angola, Terrence went to play for Bafana Bafana, but we had the rest of the squad here.
“And training intensity was good, nice and high friendly match against Stellies, very good in prep of this game against Baroka.”
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Tinkler also gave an update on players ahead of the game, and while Thato Mokeke will miss out through suspension, he is happy to welcome back Mpho Makola after his two-month ban.
“Right now, Tassie is struggling a little bit with a knock, but it shouldn’t be anything serious,” he continued.
“So he hasn’t trained the last couple of days, but he should be back in training, I would assume by tomorrow so that obviously makes him available.
“Mpho Makola comes back from his suspension so he’s also now thrown his name in the hat and made my job even more difficult. “With his inclusion, unfortunately, Thato Mokeke will be serving a suspension for this match.
“And then obviously, we waiting on Hugo Marques to return and Terrence Mashego, which I believe suffered from cramp apparently, that’s the report we got from SAFA, in the first game. So we hope he returns with no injury concerns.”
Tinkler is also very pleased to finally have Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet available. Keet has been injured ever since joining City.
“And then the good news is also that Darren Keet, now is fit and available for selection,” Tinkler added.
“So our goalkeeping department has just got stronger as well. And you know that bodes well for the future.
“And like I said before, important game for us. We want to try and win three games in a row, something that hasn’t been done at the club in quite a while.
“So that is going to be our objective, but knowing that, it’s not going to be an easy task. Baroka is fighting for their lives. So we just got to go out there and work extremely hard to achieve that.”
