Bryce Moon out to shine again for the students

17 October 2014 - 02:31 By Louis Mazibuko, Marc Strydom and Tshepang Mailwane
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NO MATCH: Lerato Chabangu of Swallows battles for the ball with Bryce Moon of Sundowns during the PSL match at Loftus Stadium yesterday Picture:
NO MATCH: Lerato Chabangu of Swallows battles for the ball with Bryce Moon of Sundowns during the PSL match at Loftus Stadium yesterday Picture:
Image: GALLO IMAGES

The lunar eclipse is over at Mamelodi Sundowns following the return of former Bafana Bafana defender Bryce Moon for their Absa Premiership clash against Bidvest Wits at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow.

The no-nonsense fullback has not seen any action this season, playing second fiddle to the towering Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who is now out with injury.

Moon should be anxious to show coach Pitso Mosimane that he still rates right up there with the best right backs in the PSL.

A roaring display against Gavin Hunt's Wits always deserves full marks. It will be especially so for Moon if he can help to lift Sundowns, who have not been convincing indefence of their title. But, with Hunt's team unlikely to roll over for the opposition, Moon and his teammates will have to be on their toes until the final whistle.

Hunt knows Moon - and the Sundowns team - and what they are capable of.

"We have been out of action for two weeks. You never know what we will get when we face Sundowns tomorrow," said the hardened Wits coach.

Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa believes Rivaldo Coetzee will keep his feet on the ground returning to club action for the Urban Warriors' crucial match against Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

Second-placed Ajax will provide Chiefs with one of their sternest tests in a season in which the PSL leaders have marched to seven league victories, and 12 in all competitions.

Coetzee, who turned 18 yesterday, became Bafana's youngest player with solid showings in South Africa's 2-0 away win and 0-0 home draw against Congo in the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.

"I was a little surprised he was called up originally - I didn't expect Shakes to call up a 17-year-old," De Sa admitted yesterday.

"But obviously Shakes knew him well from the U-20s, and knew what he was calling up.

"I am happy he started. He did what I thought he would do, and did it well," he said.

Coetzee and left-wing Keagan Dolly would have had their confidence boosted by their Bafana debuts in the past month. But De Sa does not expect problems keeping the duo grounded.

Orlando Stadium is no longer the fortress it was during Orlando Pirates' back-to-back treble seasons and defender Ayanda Gcaba has called on the club to bring back the "fear factor".

Pirates have won just one of their three PSL matches at Orlando thus far and they were beaten five times at home last season.

"We have not been doing well at home. When teams come to Orlando, they are too defensive, so it's difficult to break them down," Gcaba said.

"We have to make life difficult for our opponents in Orlando," he said, ahead of Pirates' league clash with the defender's former club, Free State Stars, tomorrow.

PSL Fixtures

Tomorrow

Dobsonville: Swallows vs Black Aces (3pm)

Tuks: AmaTuks vs Supersport (3.30pm)

Loftus: Sundowns vs Wits (6pm)

Princess Magogo: AmaZulu vs Chippa (6pm)

Orlando: Pirates vs FS Stars (8.15pm)

Harry Gwala: Maritzburg vs Plat Stars (8.15pm)

Sunday

Cape Town: Ajax vs Chiefs (3.30pm)

Kaizer Sebothelo: Celtic vs Polokwane (3.30pm)

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