/ 2 December 2011

Vermezovic not concerned about Chiefs’ crisis

Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic admits the club faces a crisis, but has brushed off any concern as his side prepares to face Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.

“Of course maybe we are in crisis, but I can’t complain about their [the players] work rate and the results will come for sure,” Vermezovic said.

“Even Sundowns and Pirates were in crisis and now they’re getting results and I think we will get results … we are professionals, and the beauty of our job is that every few days we have another opportunity … I hope our guys will be ready for the match against Sundowns. It won’t be easy and they know that.”

Chiefs, lying fourth on the log without a win in their last three league matches, come off a 2-0 football lesson under the tutelage of log leaders SuperSport United and will be desperate to get their season back on track.

“We didn’t play well. We made a couple of mistakes and we were punished,” Vermezovic said.

“But you know, at the end of the day we gave everything.”

‘We can’t surrender’
Vermezovic believed he had enough quality players and would not comment on the tactics of his side.

“We can’t give up now, we can’t surrender. We have to fight until the end.”

Chiefs striker Bernard Parker backed up the coach and his under-performing side.

“The public is definitely too quick to criticise,” Parker said.

“The season is still fresh and on track, and we are contending for the league … if the public can continue supporting us, backing us and putting their faith and trust in us, we can definitely turn things around.”

Fixtures
Elsewhere this weekend, title holders Orlando Pirates host leaders SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Third-placed Free State Stars are at home to Santos at Charles Mopeli Stadium.

Wits host Golden Arrows at Bidvest Stadium, while bottom-placed Jomo Cosmos go in search of their first win of the campaign when they host Platinum Stars in Daveyton.

Strugglers Black Leopards travel to Dobsonville to play a resurgent Moroka Swallows outfit.

On Sunday, Ajax Cape Town host Bloemfontein Celtic at the Cape Town Stadium and Maritzburg United travel to Durban to take on AmaZulu. — Sapa