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Cape Town - 2001/02 PSL Champions Santos open their Absa PSL account with a clash against Moroka Swallows at the Athlone Stadium on Friday. The teams drew their respective matches last season.
Santos started the 2010/11 season in fine fettle but went through horrendous slump mid-season. They finished eighth but ended the season with a galling 3-0 loss Vasco da Gama, who despite that win, were relegated. The Cape side stretched defending the league champions Orlando Pirates during their 1-0 loss in the MTN8 quarterfinal tie.
They managed to retain the services of striker Erwin Isaacs, who missed the Pirates game and acquired Pere Ariweriyai and Warren Bishop from AmaZulu and Mpumalanga Black Aces respectively. Captain Tyren Arendse told the club’s website that they will be ready for Swallows and they will look to take three points.
"A win against Swallows is what we need to kick-start our campaign and this will bring more confidence into the team,” he said
The Birds will have something to prove after enduring one of their worst league runs in recent memory. They avoided relegation on the final day and never moved out of the bottom three throughout the season.
Four-time PSL title winning coach Gordon Igesund bolstered his squad during the off-season by signing the likes of Luvhengo Mungomeni from Mamelodi Sundowns and Joseph Makhanya from Orlando Pirates.
Midfielder and captain Lefa Tsutsulupa was aware of how the team struggled last season and expects a tough game.
"It's going to be a tough encounter but I believe the players will rise to the occasion,” he told morokaswallows.co.za.
Santos were never the most exciting team to watch in the previous campaign but were involved in some high-scoring thrillers, including a 4-3 loss to Ajax and beat Golden Arrows with the same score away from home and copped a 5-2 beating at SuperSport United.
Swallows will look to shore up their porous defence, which caused them major problems last season. Goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng will look to redeem himself after his blunder against Pirates while Swallows will hope to win their first opening fixture since the 2007/08 season.
Cape Town - 2001/02 PSL Champions Santos open their Absa PSL account with a clash against Moroka Swallows at the Athlone Stadium on Friday. The teams drew their respective matches last season.
Santos started the 2010/11 season in fine fettle but went through horrendous slump mid-season. They finished eighth but ended the season with a galling 3-0 loss Vasco da Gama, who despite that win, were relegated. The Cape side stretched defending the league champions Orlando Pirates during their 1-0 loss in the MTN8 quarterfinal tie.
They managed to retain the services of striker Erwin Isaacs, who missed the Pirates game and acquired Pere Ariweriyai and Warren Bishop from AmaZulu and Mpumalanga Black Aces respectively. Captain Tyren Arendse told the club’s website that they will be ready for Swallows and they will look to take three points.
"A win against Swallows is what we need to kick-start our campaign and this will bring more confidence into the team,” he said
The Birds will have something to prove after enduring one of their worst league runs in recent memory. They avoided relegation on the final day and never moved out of the bottom three throughout the season.
Four-time PSL title winning coach Gordon Igesund bolstered his squad during the off-season by signing the likes of Luvhengo Mungomeni from Mamelodi Sundowns and Joseph Makhanya from Orlando Pirates.
Midfielder and captain Lefa Tsutsulupa was aware of how the team struggled last season and expects a tough game.
"It's going to be a tough encounter but I believe the players will rise to the occasion,” he told morokaswallows.co.za.
Santos were never the most exciting team to watch in the previous campaign but were involved in some high-scoring thrillers, including a 4-3 loss to Ajax and beat Golden Arrows with the same score away from home and copped a 5-2 beating at SuperSport United.
Swallows will look to shore up their porous defence, which caused them major problems last season. Goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng will look to redeem himself after his blunder against Pirates while Swallows will hope to win their first opening fixture since the 2007/08 season.
