BidVest Wits will pose the first real test for Kaizer Chiefs and new coach Vladimir Vermezovic when the teams clash in the quarterfinals of the MTN8 competition at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday night. Kick-off is at 8.15pm.
Vermezovic admitted he had not seen any of the Students’ pre-season matches and was in the dark as to what to expect from Chiefs’ first official match of the new season.
The Serbian coach said Chiefs were ready for the kick-off after his side’s penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates in the semifinals of the Telkom Charity Cup at a rain-soaked Royal Bafokeng Stadium on the weekend which wound up his pre-season preparations.
”We are ready for Wits,” said Vermezovic, ”but it had been strange pre-season.
”We played teams like PSL champions SuperSport and played Pirates twice in the pre-season, but it is difficult to gauge teams’ strengths and weaknesses as they all chopped and changed their players as, coaches do in the pre-season.”
But Vermezovic was impressed when he watched Platinum Stars defeat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the other Charity Cup semifinal, also played at the wet Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
”It was the first time I watched both Sundowns and Stars live and they are good teams and will be tough opponents. That showed me we are heading for a highly competitive season.”
Vermezovic said he was happy to have accepted the hot seat at Chiefs. ”This is an exciting time to work in South Africa, with the World Cup knocking on the door, and I made the right choice by joining Chiefs.
”But our first big test comes against Wits.”
The Chiefs coach said winger Josta Dladla was doubtful after picking up an injury against Bucs. He joins Siphiwe Tshabalala, Dominic Isaacs, skipper Jimmy Tau and Mthokozisi Yende in the treatment room.
But Vermezovic has loads of talent at his disposal with strikers Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Nkosinathi Nhleko, Jose Torrealba and teenager Knowledge Musona hoping to start against the Students.
Wits have transferred Tebogo Langerman to champions SuperSport, but their coach, Roger de Sa, said new midfielders Mark Haskins and Sipho Mngomezulu, and right back Michael Morton will make their debuts against Chiefs.
Said De Sa: ”I released Langerman as I did not want to stand in his way and I wish him success at SuperSport.
”I have built up a competitive squad in the off-season, but we lack the type of competitive match practice that Chiefs have enjoyed by playing and winning the Challenge against sides like Pirates and English outfit Manchester City, plus playing in the Charity Cup at the weekend gives them an edge.”
But De Sa admits it is difficult to gauge Chiefs’ strengths and weaknesses from those pre-season tournaments.
In another quarterfinal clash, AmaZulu host SuperSport at Durban’s Chatsworth Stadium in what promises to be a closely fought cup tie.
Usuthu have a new head coach in Neil Tovey, who wants to start his reign on a winning note while United coach Gavin Hunt, who has won back-to-back Premiership titles, is determined to do better in the knockout competitions this season.
Kick-off is also at 7.30pm. — Sapa