Soweto blues hit Rangers

By Horatio Motjuwadi - SportsDay

Soweto could complete a treble against former PSL Champions Manning Rangers in Durban on Sunday. Rangers were annhiliated 4-1 by Kaizer Chiefs eight days ago and then 3-1 by Moroka Swallows last Saturday. Their highly rated manager, Gordon Igesund, yesterday said he was bracing himself for another rough ride against Pirates. One of Sowetos "Big Three".

"They are playing some very good football and they have players like John Moeti, Thabo Mngomeni and Joseph Ngake who are already on top of their game now. " said Igesund.

Rangers slithered out of the race as soon as they rain into the well-oiled machine of Chiefs. Relegation threatened Swallows added to their woes as Igesunds boys suddenly looked out of their depth.

"They certainly did not play as well as they can against us and they are in for another tough one. But I know that he is a fighter and Gordon will be all out top stop their slide against Pirates. But we were also determined to get the points. " said Swallows coach Walter Rauttman.

Wanted by Pirates, Seven Stars - Rangers managing director KC Reddy said that he wont go for less than R1-million - Igesund explained why the wheels came off their challenge.

"We have been very unlucky with the booking and suspensions and I still have six players who are very doubtful for the Pirates game. We were not at full strength against Chiefs and Swallows."

Doubtful with injuries are Bradley Muir, Mark Davies, Warren du Pont, Percy Molotsane and imports Gilbert Mushangazike (Zimbabwe) and Liswa Nduti (DR of Congo).

But we will give it our best shot. And our results against Pirates have not been bad over three years and no team can claim superiority as we beat them three times and they have beaten us three times over the last three years." says Gordon.

The man Rangers will have to watch out for is Joseph Ngake, the spring heeled forward who is fast proving to be one of the most underrated attackers in the country. Leading goal scorers Sibisuso Zuma and Phumlani Mkhize could also to prove before Durban crowd that they have not lost none of the zest to conquer since moving from African Wanderers to Pirates. The game is one of only two league games this week because of the Bobsave Superbowl Semi-Final.