MTN8 Semi-Final
Teams: Polokwane City v Highlands Park
Date: 31 August 2019
Venue: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane City and Highlands Park will be entering uncharted territory when they clash in the first-leg of MTN8 semi-finals on Saturday afternoon at Peter Mokaba Stadium. The match will get underway at 15h00. Rise and Shine coach Zlatko Krmpotic has hit the ground running at the club as he continued with their good run of form after dumping holders Cape Town City out of the tournament, with a shock 2-0 victory in the quarter-finals two weeks ago. Polokwane qualified for the semi-finals for the first time in their history as a result, to complement their best ever finish in the Absa Premiership last season, which was fifth. Although, In their last outing in the league they were held to a goalless stalemate by Chippa United on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Lions of the North were making their debut in the competition this season after finishing seventh last season on the log and managed to claim the scalp of Orlando Pirates with a 1-0 in the MTN8 a fortnight ago. Owen Da Gama's charges will be confident heading into this afternoon's clash after registering their first league win of the season with a 2-1 vctory over AmaZulu on Tuesday. In the two meetings last season, City had the edge over Highlands, as in they played to a thrilling 2-2 stalemate in Polokwane before Rise and Shine won the return fixture 2-0 in Tembisa.
Here's how they line up: Polokwane: 40. Chibwe, 2. Mvelase, 24. Hlongwane, 22. Mbonani, 27. Motloung, 14. Manaka, 10. Tlolane, 4. Nene, 3. Anas, 18. W. Maluleke, 33. Nku.
Subs: 50. Phali, 28. Nthatheni, 9. Mashumba, 6. Chauke, 8. J.Maluleke, Phiri, 7. Hlubi.
Highlands: 42. Ngobeni, 10. Mokoena, 19. Munyai, 21. Mbhele, 24. Rae, 22. Williams, 42. Mahlangu, 43. Mbatha, 38. Shalulile, 14. Mvala, 7. Ndoro. Subs: 50. Etafia, 12. Mogaila, 27. Jooste, Mkhabela, 98. Msane, Motlafi, 13. Ramagalela.
