Sowetan

For Steve’s sake, Chiefs must win

COACH URGES ‘ANGRY’ AMAKHOSI TO HIT BACK

- Tshepang Mailwane

OF ALL the coaches taking part in the the MTN8, Steve Komphela is the one who desperatel­y needs success in the competitio­n.

A losing finalist last season, Komphela enters this year’s edition on the back of a poor display in a 2-1 defeat to Bidvest Wits in the league on Tuesday.

Amakhosi did not look confident at all in the game, so Komphela has to pick his players up for the tricky battle against Cape Town City tonight (Cape Town Stadium 8pm).

“The beauty of having two matches in a week is that you can bounce back, whilst you are still angry [from defeat]. But if you don’t win, then it knocks your confidence,” said Komphela, who could include more of his new signings after leaving seven of them out against Wits.

“It’s an opportunit­y for us to win silverware. Last season we went to the final and we got nothing.”

Komphela admitted he was surprised to see Wits coach Gavin Hunt playing Thabang Monare and Xola Mlambo in central midfield on Tuesday. He is expecting more surprises against City, who are a closed book to many teams in the PSL. “The beginning of the season is very difficult because you do not know much about these opponents. It was the same with Wits. We will face a Cape Town City that we know as Black Aces, but they have made a lot of changes. “We need to impose our game plan. We need to play as a team. There are things we did wrong [against Wits] and need to rectify. An opportunit­y is Friday. Go there, win the match and everything will be okay.” Amakhosi arrived in the Mother City yesterday and they’ll face a group of players who believe they can go all the way and win the competitio­n. “To be a champion in the MTN8 you only need to win four games,” said Cape Town City vice-captain Vincent Kobola. “We have the players and we have the character. We are a new team on the block and we want to make history.”

 ?? PHOTOS: LEFTY SHIVAMBU/ GALLO IMAGES ?? Xola Mlambo was a surprise choice for Bidvest Wits during the league match against Kaizer Chiefs. Kaizer Chiefs head coach Steve Komphela is already under pressure.
PHOTOS: LEFTY SHIVAMBU/ GALLO IMAGES Xola Mlambo was a surprise choice for Bidvest Wits during the league match against Kaizer Chiefs. Kaizer Chiefs head coach Steve Komphela is already under pressure.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa