Saturday’s Soweto derby featuring Absa Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will be on the backburner when both clubs face testing clashes on Wednesday night.
Amakhosi meet defending champions SuperSport United at the Super Stadium, while Bucs host Platinum Stars at the Johannesburg Stadium. Both matches kick-off at 7.30pm.
Pirates go into this clash hoping to extend their five-match unbeaten run. Said spokesperson Mickey Modisane: ”The spirit has never looked better. We respect Stars, who are a quality side, we but need to win to keep the momentum going and build more confidence ahead of Saturday’s derby.”
Bucs have no major injury worries and coach Ruud Krol is likely to start with the same side that defeated Moroka Swallows 3-2 in last weekend’s Telkom Knockout quarterfinal in Rustenburg.
Said Modisane: ”The coach is starting to bring out the best in the players. But they believe they can still improve. We are banking on more support as we need our fans to play a big role in encouraging the players as our 12th man.”
United face a Chiefs side that looked to have found their true form after a poor start to their league campaign. United coach Gavin Hunt is looking for a big improvement after his side crashed out of the Knockout and lost their first Premiership match of the season in going down 1-0 away to Ajax Cape Town last weekend.
Hunt reckons the Soweto derby will not affect Chiefs’ performance against his side. ”We also have a tough match on Saturday when we play Wits at Milpark. So I think Chiefs, like us, will be focused on one match at a time.”
But Hunt is far from happy by the lack of goals. His side failed to score against Ajax, and needed two own goals in the 2-2 draw after extra time against Bloemfontein Celtic, where they eventually lost to Phunya Sele Sele in the Knockout quarterfinal showdown on a penalty shoot-out.
Said Hunt: ”We need to show more determination. I am not pleased with the last two performances, especially not scoring. That has to come right.”
Hunt has more worries. His veteran former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Andre Arendse, is out for three weeks after injuring his groin against Celtic, while winger Daine Klate is still out for the remainder of the year with a dislocated shoulder, and midfieder Brent Carelse is suspended after being sent off against Celtic. Arendse will be replaced by Ugandan international Denis Onyango.
United’s veteran striker, Glen Salmon, has been more off the pitch than on due to a series of injuries since he joined United in the off-season. Said Hunt: ”Salmon keeps getting injured and that is a worry for me as I badly need his experience. That is what I bought him for.”
Chiefs stormed back to form with that stunning 3-0 win over AmaZulu at Loftus in their last match, which had coach Muhsin Ertugral smiling.
But Ertugral said United posed the biggest test to his side and the result would indicate where Amakhosi are heading. The Chiefs coach has a high respect for United, who he says have shown their determination to retain their title by being on top of the table after six matches..
The Premier Soccer League has scheduled two matches for Durban on Wednesday afternoon.
Golden Arrows, who are the only unbeaten side left in the Premiership, host Ajax Cape Town at Umlazi’s King Zwelithini Stadium, and at Kwa Mashu’s Princess Magogo Stadium AmaZulu host Celtic. Both kick-off at 3.30pm.
Tickets for the Pirates-Stars game are on sale at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers outlets. — Sapa