Highbury refuse to abandon gameplan

PORT Elizabeth football outfit Highbury will vent their anger at in-form Queenstown side Angavu Stars when they clash in the Safa Eastern Cape Second Division League at the Gelvandale Stadium tonight (7pm).

The home side are still licking their wounds after they were beaten 2-1 by log leaders Mthatha Bucks in Mthatha last weekend.

It was the first time this season that second-placed Highbury had been defeated. Highbury coach Garth Dickinson said it was the technical team's job to motivate the players. "We respect Stars but we are not going to sit back and allow them to attack us."

Dickinson said the team would continue with their gameplan.

"Just because we were beaten last week doesn't mean we will change our strategy – we will continue playing the same football.

"We have our own aim in the league, hence we need to collect the maximum points from this match against Stars."

Another Port Elizabeth semi- professional side campaigning in the Safa Eastern Cape Second Division League, Real City, will host neighbours Jeffreys Bay Milan at the NU2 Stadium in Motherwell on Saturday (3pm).

City are second from the bottom of the log table with only one point after five matches.

Coach Bonke Namba is putting on a brave face at the end of his side's poor league campaign.

The Motherwell outfit lost all of their three previous games.

"We probably lack confidence, which could be a factor, but the only way out of that position is to get results," Namba said.

"We've rectified silly mistakes we caused in our previous games and we've tightened our defence at the back."

He said they were still searching for experienced players who would help them to move away from the bottom of the log table for good.

"Our aim [in the match] is to score, and early, which would put us on the safe side."

Kwazakhele-based Morning Stars will hope to improve their position on the log when they face Champion in a Safa Eastern Cape Second Division League at the New Rest Stadium in Lusikisiki.

Stars coach Siyabulela Isaac said the players were prepared for the game and the team's objective was to come back with full points in the bag.

"We conceded easy goals in our last few games, but we've worked on that department."