Keeper braced for a Chiefs siege
ONYANGO: NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE, IT SHOULD BE A FIGHT
Sundowns beat Solinas’ side just two weeks ago.
When Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs met in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup two weeks ago – in what could be described as a curtainraiser for their Absa Premiership season opener as they meet this afternoon – Amakhosi coach Giovanni Solinas was not allowed to take a seat in the dugout as he was still waiting for his work permit.
The Italian will be on the bench this time around and a lot is expected from the former Free State Stars coach, who has been tasked with bringing back Chiefs’ glory days after going three barren seasons under Steve Komphela.
However, Masandawana goalkeeper Denis Onyango is expecting more of the same from Amakhosi, who his side beat 2-1 a fortnight ago.
“I don’t think there’s anything different they will do because the coach was there when we played – he was just not on the bench,” said the keeper.
“It will be the same players and same mentality. They might probably have a different fighting spirit when they come to us and we should be prepared for that because it is not going to come easy. We don’t want to lose to them, they don’t want to lose to us, so it should be a fight,” Onyango added.
The Ugandan does, nonetheless, anticipate a change in approach from the Glamour Boys, who are expected to play attacking football if sentiments by Solinas are anything to go by.
“We are playing a big club and it is going to be a different game compared to the one that we played in pre-season, it becomes a little bit challenging because we have to win this time around because last season we lost to them at home.
“We need to turn the tables and see how it goes. We beat them in the Shell Helix Cup and they will fight and we also need to fight back.”
Solinas’ opposite number, Pitso Mosimane, said his side are not quite ready and he needs a bit more time. Be that as it may, Onyango and Co know what is expected of them.
“We know that whenever we are on the field we have to give our best, we can’t make excuses that we did not rest because it is our responsibility to get the results.”