The National First Division strugglers host Polokwane City in one of three Last 32 Nedbank Cup ties on Wednesday evening, and having conceded seven goals in their last two home league matches, are wary at coming up against the Absa Premiership’s current leading marksman.
“It’s difficult to defend against a guy with that sort of quality and speed, and just this morning we were watching videos of him scoring against Mamelodi Sundowns, and if they can’t stop him, I don’t know!” Faruggia said. “But we’ve made some plans, and we have to make sure we’re compact and organised defensively, so that we don’t allow their threat to come through.
“But if we target one person specifically, they also have [Walter] Musona who’s dangerous and [Jabu] Maluleke as well, so as a collective unit we have to hold our defensive line and keep as compact as possible.”
Ubuntu currently sit bottom of the NFD standings, while Rise and Shine – winless in their last five games – lie 13th on the table, with Faruggia forecasting a tight game between two teams desperate for motivation heading into the end of the season.
“Our record isn’t great as well, so I think we are on an even playing field,” he said of City’s current form. “I think they, like us, will be using this competition to get back on track. If they were on a five or six-match winning streak, we wouldn’t like to be playing them, but hopefully an evening match for us at home will help us.
“They’re near the bottom of their table and so are we, so from that angle, you could say this is a good contest between two teams who want to change their fortunes.”