Marlins seek to maintain winning ways
Despite a very tough start to this season’s campaign, where the team lost its opening four matches (including losses to favourites Tshwane Suns, Egoli Magic and KZN rivals Duzi Royals) leaving them languishing 10th on the current log, the team is confident that their current form gives them the opportunity to climb the ladder, with two solid performances this weekend.
Tomorrow night the Marlins will take on the winless Northern Cape Zebra’s who have found life very tough in the BNL. The match is live on Supersport (Channel SLSA) from 5h45pm, which will give fans a chance to see the team live in action.
The Marlins will still be without their USA Player, Bryan Franklin whose ongoing work permit issue has still not been resolved and the club have resigned itself to the fact that Franklin is not likely to get a run in the side before the end of the season.
Marlins spokeperson, Gerry Smith says they are frustrated by the delay.
“This has been a terribly frustrating experience for us ,as we had applied for the work permit more than two months ahead of the start of the season, but due to red tape the process has been delayed to extent that the original application has expired and we now have to re apply,'' he said.
''Not having a quality player like Franklin available to us, has definitely cost us this season, as he is worth 15 - 20 points a game to us, and if you look at the results of the games we lost, these have all been by the narrowest of margins,'' he added.
A side from Franklin, the Marlins will also not have Langelethu Mbhele available to them, whilst he recovers from a broken hand.
Head Coach, Craig Gilchrist will be looking to his younger chargers to step up to the plate this weekend, with exciting prospects, Sbu Cele, Khaya Nzama, Lizwi Duma and Landelani Ngubane likely to feature extensively.
Saturday afternoon at 2pm sees the Marlins take on the rapidly improving Limpopo Pride side, who will no doubt provide the side with tough opposition and are currently just ahead of the Marlins on the log in 9th.
Two wins this weekend for the Marlins will see the side climb up the table and certainly leapfrog above the Limpopo outfit.
Team List:
10) Nhlanhla Dlamini (capt), 11) Benjamin Constable (NZ), 4) Ayanda Shange, 5) Darren Holcomb, 7) Bandile Nsele, 9) Lizwi Duma, 13) Ryan McFie, 14) Siyabonga Mahlinza, 12) Landelani Ngubane, 6) Khaya Nzama , Lethabo Molobi 21) Sbu Cele
(Photo: Supplied)
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