There are ominous signs that more misery is headed Kaizer Chiefs’ way this weekend when they host the in-form Sekhukhune United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday (start 3.30).
Chiefs will not have their high-profile Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi in their dug-out because he has been banished to the stands to serve a two-match touchline ban for his rank-poor behaviour after their match against Golden Arrows last Sunday.
Nabi was red-carded after the game when he confronted referee Olani Kwinda as the players and officials walked off the field.
Nabi was unhappy that the referee should have more additional time and accused him of attempting to assist Arrows to defeat Chiefs.
The outcome was a massive disaster for Nabi who has not turned the team's fortunes around for the better since arriving in South Africa.
With their coach watching from the stands, Chiefs must also contend with Sekhukhune, whose terrific form has taken them to third place on the latest Betway Premiership standings.
Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef will stand in for Nabi on Sunday and he knows that Sekhukhune will be a formidable opponent.
“Sekhukhune is one of the best teams this season,” said Youssef.
“Their best striker Andy Boyeli scored three goals in their last game. We must play well against them.
“This season we are in the process of building the team. The team is maybe 70 per cent (better) from last season. There are new players like (Bradley) Cross, (Njabulo) Blom, and (Gaston) Sirino. These are a lot of new players.
“The second problem is to make the team play the right way and to keep the same squad. Every game we lose one or two players to yellow or red cards.
“Then there are injuries. It started with (Edmilson) Dove, then (Edson) Castillo, then Cross, and now it is Ashley (Du Preez). Every game there is a change of squad plan. It is not easy for us.”
Under the guidance of coach Lehlohonolo Seema, the side is starting to find some consistency after a sticky patch in October and November which saw them lose three of their four top-flight encounters.
The Limpopo outfit climbed above local rivals Polokwane City into third position following a 3-0 win over SuperSport United last week and they are now unbeaten in their previous five outings.
Sekhukhune cut the gap to the second-placed Buccaneers to four points, although they have played one match more than the top two, who will both be in action in the CAF Champions League this weekend.
"I'm just happy that we managed to score three goals without a reply (against SuperSport), and I'm happy once more for [Andy] Boyeli," said Seema.
"You know it has been a long journey for him. In the first season of the league he struggled, scoring odd goals here and there but now after scoring a hat-trick, he scored in the last game again.
"The confidence is going to go up which is good that even now we don't have to rely on Ohizu (Chibuike) to put pressure on him and then we can rotate them, and the goals will start flowing."