Kickoff (Cape Town)
3 October 2008
Maritzburg United coach Gordon Igesund openly admits that this weekend's Absa Premiership clash against AmaZulu at Mpumalanga Stadium is not going to be a 'walk in the park' despite their impressive start to the season.
Igesund says he has a healthy respect for his counterparts at Usuthu, Clive Barker and Neil Tovey.
"They must have analysed our games to-date and will have a tactical ploy to stop our accumulation of points.
"We will go out knowing that we are up against a huge challenge. It is a derby and anything is possible for either side. We will have to lift ourselves up for this game. It is one of our heavyweight clashes of the season."
United are unbeaten in their first three league games and have picked up a very respectable five points thus far: an excellent return for a newly-promoted team.
They kicked off the season with a 1-1 draw away to Ajax Cape Town, before shocking Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 at home. This past weekend they held Bloemfontein Celtic to a goalless draw.
AmaZulu will enter the match in a confident mood after an emotional 1-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu at the weekend.
The teams have met just twice before; two league games in the 2006/07 season, when both sides were in the top flight.
They played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first game, a home fixture for Maritzburg United, then the Team of Choice won the second encounter 2-0 thanks to a brace from striker Fadlu Davids.
Igesund says he was not pleased with United's performance against Celtic.
"I must admit, it wasn't our best performance and we had "lady luck" on our side. It was pleasing though that our boys showed character and defensive discipline to ride out some spirited attacking and remain unbeaten in three matches."
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