With prospects of retaining the Premier Soccer League title receding fast, Kaizer Chiefs need to salvage something from what remains of the season. Though participating in two finals — the Supa 8 and Coca-Cola Cup — and winning one of them might be a great achievement for many clubs, for Chiefs and their fanatical supporters this is not enough.
Chiefs are currently in a mini-slump after losing to Moroka Swallows and drawing with Dynamos and Manning Rangers. Despite having two games in hand, the 10-point gap to runaway league leaders Orlando Pirates looks insurmountable. They need to win both their games in hand and hope Pirates slip up by the time they play their arch-rivals on April 30.
Nevertheless, coach Ted Dimitru was still upbeat when he spoke to the Mail & Guardian about Chiefs’ prospects: ”Many changes are to take place between now and the end of the season, let’s wait until then to see what happens in the title race.”
But the Naturena side need to get their priorities straight as to which trophies to concentrate on for the rest of the season: the league, Absa Cup or African Champions League.
The continental competition looks the best bet to crown the season, with a purse of $1-million, the opportunity to play in the world club championships and the honour of being known as the best club in Africa.ÂÂ
But for Chiefs to get to the final of this competition they first need to negotiate a preliminary round, and then the first round before reaching the last 16 stage and the eight-team group stage.
To do this Chiefs need to be in the right frame of mind and be able to rely on their experienced players. John Moshoeu will not be one of them after having been suspended by the club until a disciplinary hearing on February 4. This is not the first time the player has been in hot water for speaking out against the club.
But Chiefs can rely on Cyril Nzama, Patrick Mabedi, Thabo Mooki and other players who participated in the 2001 Cup Winners Cup (also known as the Mandela Cup) to teach the youngsters and new players how to adapt quickly to the rigours of playing around Africa.
Last season’s runners-up, Ajax Cape Town, are also making the journey into Africa. The Cape side are already out of the running to win the league title and will be looking to pick up a few decent-sized cheques from their champions league matches, even if they don’t win the trophy.
Ajax coach Gordon Igesund said: ”The champions league is our main priority and we want to go as far as possible in the competition.”
Ajax recently lost their sponsorship from Total and will be looking to at least get their hand in the cookie jar of this tournament, where $200 000 is on offer for each win in the later stages. But they will need to part with a lot of money before being rewarded, since travel and insurance are not adequately covered in the early rounds.ÂÂ
Kaizer Chiefs face AS Port Louis 2000 of Mauritius in Rustenburg on Saturday, while Ajax Cape Town plays Mhlanbanyatsi Rovers of Swaziland at Newlands on Sunday in preliminary round, first-leg, clashes.