Business Day (Johannesburg)
Mninawa Ntloko
4 November 2009
Johannesburg — MOROKA Swallows CEO Leon Prins yesterday boldly declared that the Birds were in with a chance of winning the domestic premiership title this season.
Prins said leaders SuperSport United might be at the summit, but he believed the race was still wide open.
"It is true, it is our ambition to win the league this season," Prins said.
"We are planning to come back very strongly in the second round and it is not impossible to win the league. I am aware that it is going to take some doing on our part to catch up with SuperSport but it is possible."
Prins and his side can now afford to turn their focus fully to matters on the pitch after the litany of off-the-field distractions from a disgruntled section of the club's supporters a few weeks ago.
Some supporters threatened to demonstrate against Prins's leadership at the club's home matches and their action coincided with Swallows' slump in the league.
But since those days, Swallows have clawed their way from the bottom of the table to occupy ninth place and Prins said it was no coincidence that the voices of dissent had since died down.
"Whenever the club has a poor run of form, the distractions tend to creep out (of the woodwork). I suppose supporters have a right to be upset when the results are not going the club's way. But a few things went against us that led to the slump.
"We were unfortunate with injuries to four or five players who would have normally been in the starting line."
Swallows registered some important results last month that included victories over Kaizer Chiefs, Platinum Stars and Maritzburg United. Leon said he hoped that the recovery would continue tonight when the side hosts star-studded but underachieving Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium.
"Sundowns are a quality side and I expect them to be challenging for the league title later in the season."
The Dube Birds will be without injured former Bafana Bafana striker Siyabonga Nomvete, Sibusiso Khumalo and the suspended Morgan Shivambu.
The Birds hope to completely relocate to Dobsonville in the future and Prins said even the club's offices and youth structures would be accommodated at the venue.
TODAY'S PSL FIXTURES
Golden Arrows vs Bloemfontein Celtic at Chatsworth Stadium (3.30pm), Free State Stars vs AmaZulu at Goble Park (3.30pm), Santos vs Bidvest Wits at Coetzenburg Stadium (7.30pm), Black Aces vs Kaizer Chiefs at Puma Rugby Stadium (7.30pm), Jomo Cosmos vs Ajax Cape Town at Rand Stadium (7.30pm), SuperSport United vs Platinum Stars at Super Stadium (7.30pm), Moroka Swallows vs Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium (7.30pm), Orlando Pirates vs Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium (7.30pm)
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