New kid on block fired up
Chiefs out to blunt Arrows Chilli Boys to draw their swords for Warriors
JOSEPH Molangoane believes he can settle quickly at Kaizer Chiefs having scored in his first start‚ a match where he also played a role in Amakhosi’s first win in nine matches.
Chiefs meet Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium tonight in both teams’ final match of 2016 before the six-week break in the PSL for Christmas and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Chiefs’ new signing started in Sunday’s 3-2 Premier win against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium‚ a result that ended a run of eight league games and one cup match without a win for Amakhosi.
For Molongoane his two substitutes’ appearances and one start have also ended a period of inactivity as he resolved a contractual dispute with former club Chippa United.
He said he was pleased to get back on a field playing again. “I really missed it‚” he said. “I had a really tough period this year and I went through some to be over that and playing once again.
“I don’t know how to describe it‚ just being a part of Kaizer Chiefs is a great feeling and scoring [against Polokwane] was just a cherry on top.”
Molongoane said he put into practice against City elements that he had observed Chiefs needed in their play observing his new team in the skilful midfielder’s first few weeks on the bench.
“I just watch the game and things come to my head naturally.
“Things that I believe we can do better or things we are having trouble with‚ weaknesses of the other team or if we are having a few problems – and I have taken that and used it when given a chance yesterday and some worked‚” he said.
“It’s always about the team and I am doing it for the Khosi nation.
“For me to go in there and score‚ I realised very quickly that it was not CHIPPA United will be looking to close the first half of their Premier Soccer League campaign on a high note when they play Ajax at Cape Town Stadium tonight.
The fixture will be the Port Elizabeth-based side’s last game before the team breaks for the festive season.
Chippa will be out to give their supporters an early Christmas present, but most importantly the team will be eyeing a second consecutive about me‚ but contributing towards the success of the team.
“The team as a whole came together in the second half and that enabled us to win it.
“Going to Durban in the next match‚ it’s important that we start from where we finished and get more points before the Christmas break.”
● SuperSport United striker Kingston Nkhatha says his side are aware of the danger posed by Polokwane City in tonight’s final Premier Soccer League match-up of 2016 for both teams.
Two inform teams meet at Lucas Moripe Stadium‚ with Nkhatha having said SuperSport want to end 2016 on a high.
However‚ SuperSport are aware of the threat posed by City‚ who lost their first match in six 3-2 against Chiefs on Sunday.
“Polokwane City are in fantastic form‚” said Nkhatha.
“There’s a lot of teamwork in their squad that’s why they are fighting and pushing their way up.
“This is not going to be an easy one.
“We are also prepared for this match and want to give our supporters a nice Christmas present.”
City coach Luc Eymael was not pleased at how his side fought back to 2-2 against Chiefs then conceded Willard Katsande’s late winner.
This after Polokwane had also missed a penalty‚ taken by Rodney Ramagalela in the 23rd minute‚ which was an opportunity that would have given the visitors a more com fortable lead going into the halftime break.
Ramagalela put City 1-0 up seven minutes later.
“I don’t understand this lack of concentration – there are so many points we have lost in matches in the dying minutes.
“The coach can do so much but you cannot make such mistakes,” said Eymael. — TMG Digital victory.
The Chilli Boys beat Highlands Park 2-0 at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in their last league fixture.
Despite the injury crisis Chippa coach Dan “Dance” Malesela is faced with, he said he is hoping for a win against the Urban Warriors.
“I am hoping for another three points but you know life is getting difficult every day,” said Malesela.
“We are now sitting with quite a number of injuries, particularly at the back, but these are challenges of football and I think we will overcome them.”
The win will also enable the team to move into a more favourable position on the log.
Chippa are currently 10th on the standings with 16 points from 13 matches.
Only five points separate them from Free State Stars who are last.
“We now find ourselves on the other side of the log,” said Malesela.
“The priority should be to move away from the bottom, not to think about chasing targets or about position. “We have had a slight change to our approach because in the beginning we were a bit confident that we would probably glide with the league.
“Now we have found ourselves in a bit of a slump, so we must look at where we are and what is reasonable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ajax will go into the game with their confident levels on a high after their 3-0 victory against Bloemfontein Celtic in their last league fixture.
The win was the Cape Town sides fourth league victory this season.
The Urban Warriors are just behind Chippa in 11th place on the log with 15 points from 14 matches.