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Kaizer Chiefs defender Philani Zulu plans to gorge on the concerns of Baroka FC when Amakhosi host them in an Absa Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban tomorrow. Zulu says when he was at Maritzburg United, he used to look forward to playing Chiefs and didn’t need to be motivated to give his best, but that came with a catch.
“When I played against Chiefs I couldn’t wait for the game. I would wish we could play as soon as possible. But it also brought fear because you know they are a big team and they keep the ball and play to win. And now that I am facing people who have the same feeling about the game as I used to, we need to use that to our advantage as they have that little fear that they are playing Chiefs,” said Zulu yesterday.
“It’s going to be a tough game because they have been doing well. When you play Pirates, Chiefs or Sundowns you don’t need motivation. They are going to come at us hard and we are expecting that but we have our own plan on how to counter them.
“The motivation for us is going to the Fifa break with three points in the bag,” added the 24-year-old former Maritzburg United player.
Zulu said having worked with Chiefs coach Steve Komphela previously at the Team of Choice worked in his favour when they reunited in Naturena. While he was willing to fight for his position in the team, Zulu never expected to make the team so early with experienced campaigners like Tsepo Masilela and Sibusiso Khumalo ahead of him in the leftback position.
“I didn’t expect to be in the team so soon. For example, Tsepo is a player I looked up to and I was looking to learn from him and gain some experience. But I am grateful for the chance and I am looking forward to keep doing my best for the team.”
Baroka, of course, will have a former Chiefs player on their team this weekend, as Amakhosi legend Doctor Khumalo is now technical director at the club. It will no doubt be a strange feeling for “16V” to be in the opposition camp come kick-off in Durban. But so far it is working out well for Khumalo and Baroka, with the Limpopo side unbeaten in their first six Premiership games and currently second, trailing Golden Arrows only on goal difference.