The Brazilians ended 2009 in superb form, claiming five successive wins to put themselves in a position where they are just three points adrift of leaders SuperSport United and hold a game in hand over their cross-town rivals.
However, Hristo Stoichkov’s side will have the tricky task of trying to regain the momentum lost when the PSL went into a lengthy recess for the festive season and the recently completed Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
They face a Bloemfontein Celtic side who are handily placed in sixth position on the log -- despite suffering three defeats in their last five league matches of 2009 –- and have ambitions of moving even further up the table.
Celtic have been boosted by the news that leading scorer Prince Olomu has retuned to Bloemfontein after impressing in trials with Israeli club Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, only for Phunya Sele Sele to turn down the team’s offer for him.
Olomu himself is uncertain whether he will see out the remainder of the season with Celtic but is hopeful that the club will end the Absa Premiership high up the log: “It would be great to finish in the top three. We are willing to work hard in the remaining games but they will all be difficult because teams are now either looking to finish higher up the log or survive relegation.”
Phunya Sele Sele’s form at the back end of 2009 was disappointing, but they still provided two players to the Bafana Bafana training camp -- winger Tlou Segolela and defensive midfielder Thabo Nthethe -- who will both be looking to continue their fine individual form against Sundowns on Wednesday.
The Brazilians themselves provided no less than eight players to the national team (Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa, Innocent Mdledle, Luvhengo Mungomeni, Siyanda Xulu, Franklin Cale, Matthew Pattison and Katlego Mphela), all of whom will be itching to get back into league action on Wednesday evening.
Skipper Esrom Nyandoro praised Stoichkov for the way he has turned Sundowns’ season around. “He deserves recognition for the way he has got us playing good football again,” said the Zimbabwean. “He believes in his players and we have responded well to him.”
When the teams met earlier in the season at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, it was Sundowns who claimed a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Mabhuti Khenyeza and Felix Katongo, who recently helped Zambia to the quarterfinals of the Nations Cup.
It was the Brazilians’ third successive victory over Phunya Sele Sele in the PSL; in fact the Bloemfontein club last beat Sundowns in an official competitive game in the second half of the 2005/06 season.
Overall, Sundowns have won 21 of the 43 league meetings between the sides since 1985, suffering defeat on ten occasions and outscoring Celtic 51 goals to 41.
Neither side has any injury worries, though Sundowns will be missing Elias Pelembe due to suspension and the same applies to Celtic’s Michael Khaile, Johannes Motlhaping and Sandile Ndlovu.
