Maritzburg United will hoping that 2021 is a lot kinder to them, after a disappointing end to 2020.
The Team of Choice are on a win-less streak of 15 games in 2020, having last tasted victory in March. Prior to that they had been excellent form, but after lockdown, things went pear shaped.
They host Bloemfontein Celtic in the DSTV Premiership at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday, and Ernst Middendorp will be aiming to give the club their first win of the season.
It is one of just two fixtures scheduled for the upcoming weekend, with Mamelodi Sundowns hosting Orlando Pirates earlier in the day. All other DSTV Premiership sides will resume playing a few days later in the mid-week fixtures.
With the MTN8 final behind them, Celtic and John Maduka will now be aiming at refocussing their efforts on the league.
They also have one foot out the exit door of the CAF Confederation Cup, after losing 2-0 at home to Rivers United last week. They have to go to Nigeria after this fixture, but one gets the feeling that they will just be sending numbers now, as their chances of progression are slim after the home defeat.
But a victory in this game might just give them some extra motivation.
Maritzburg will be a little more desperate. Their talented squad has under-performed, and pound-for-pound should maybe not be in the position they find themselves in.
After replacing Eric Tinkler with Middendorp, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan either, they have drawn two and lost one of the three games where the German coach has sat on the bench.
But this is one of those games that the home team will believe is winnable.
With momentum being key for both sides, a positive result would be ideal, going into a very busy January schedule.
Maritzburg’s January Schedule:
2 January – Maritzburg v Celtic
9 January – Kaizer Chiefs v Maritzburg
17 January – AmaZulu v Maritzburg
20 January – Maritzburg v TS Galaxy
23 January – Maritzburg v Orlando Pirates
30 January – Golden Arrows v Maritzburg
Celtic’s January Schedule:
2 January – Maritzburg v Celtic
6 January – Rivers Utd v Celtic (CAFCC)
10 January – Celtic v AmaZulu
16 January – Celtic v Stellenbosch
19 January – Mamelodi Sundowns v Celtic
23 January – TS Galaxy v Celtic
30 January – Celtic v TTM
