Kaizer Chiefs are determined to wipe out the memory of three successive defeats by arch rivals Orlando Pirates when the two Soweto giants meet in a Vodacom Challenge decider at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday night.
”We need to remedy those three defeats in the Telkom Charity Cup and two in the league last season by Pirates,” Amakhosi manager Bobby Motaung said at a media briefing prior to the first Soweto Derby of the new season.
”And this Challenge game is the perfect platform to set the record straight. The players and our new coach [Vladimir Vermezovic] know how important a win is to the fans and the club.
”We aim to get out there on Thursday and show that we mean business in the coming PSL season.”
A win would not only boost morale in the Chiefs camp ahead of the new PSL season that kicks off officially on August 1 with the Telkom Charity Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, but a win over the old enemy would give Chiefs a second crack at Manchester City in the Challenge final at Loftus on Saturday.
”The players and coach know how important this game is, not just to get to the final but to give our supporters a big lift,” Motaung said. ”We owe it to our supporters to beat Pirates.”
But that will be easier said than done. Bucs coach Ruud Krol pointed out after beating City 2-0 in the opening Challenge clash in Polokwane last Saturday that his squad are boosted by the return to duty of their four Bafana Bafana stars — midfield playmaker Teko Modise, anchorman Benson Mhlongo who comes back after getting married last weekend, defender Innocent Mdledle and striker Katlego Mashego.
The four were rested by Krol for the 2-0 win over the big spending English outfit who redeemed themselves with a hard fought 1-0 win over a hard running Amakhosi side in Durban on Tuesday night.
”We are still preparing for the new season but we also realise the importance of playing Chiefs, and as a coach I want to get to the final and play City again on Saturday,” said Krol.
Motaung has dismissed suggestions that Chiefs’ preparations would be hampered by the fact that they only arrived in PE on Wednesday night.
”We have a squad of 24 fit players and the coach is prepared for this tough schedule,” Motaung said.
”He has a rotation policy and will give other players a run against Pirates. The match against City was more of an exhibition game but the Pirates clash is the real test to see how far we have progressed and the cherry on top would be getting to the final.”
Motaung also said that fans need to be patient with players when they have an off day. Striker Kaizer Motaung junior took a lot of stick from the fans in Durban.
”Kaizer junior is a professional and can handle the pressure,” the Amakhosi manager said.
”He knows where he went wrong and will be out there fighting hard to rectify his mistakes.
”But fans need to show more patience as this is the pre-season and we need to help all the players get fighting fit for the start of the new season when form really counts.” — Sapa