The Citizen (Gauteng)

Chiefs out for revenge

Chiefs midfielder Baccus hopes the pain of last season’s draw will lift them.

- Jonty Mark

It is perhaps unsurprisi­ng that looking back at the last time Kaizer Chiefs played Baroka FC, in the final game of last season, midfielder Kearyn Baccus mistakenly recalls a defeat.

“They ended up beating us last season in the last game,” said Baccus yesterday, ahead of Chiefs’ meeting with Bakgaga today, in a DStv Premiershi­p match-up at FNB Stadium.

That previous game, on 5 September, 2020, was actually a draw, but it certainly felt like a loss, as it enabled Mamelodi Sundowns to sneak in at the death and snatch the league title from Amakhosi.

Baccus hopes Amakhosi can use that pain to pick up another three points today, with the side finally finding some form under new head coach Gavin Hunt.

“We have a bit of disappoint­ment and hurt (from that match), hopefully that will give us drive and battle and we can…get a win,” added the midfielder, who watched the whole of the final game of last season from the bench.

He has returned from injury to help Hunt’s squad in their recent run that saw them win three Premiershi­p games in a row, to haul themselves up the table, though they were held on

Saturday by Stellenbos­ch FC to a goalless draw at the Danie Craven Stadium.

“I think it is part of football, there are always injuries here and there. Luckily I was not out for too long…it was a bit disappoint­ing seeing the boys not getting the best results (Chiefs won just one of their first nine Premiershi­p matches) and I couldn’t do anything. But life moves on and I am happy now that we are getting good results.”

Chiefs face Baroka in another important week that ends off on Saturday with a Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates.

Baroka, meanwhile, started the season well but have faded badly, losing five of their last seven league games.

Still, they are currently a respectabl­e 10th in the table, and would overtake Chiefs if they manage to pull off a surprise win at FNB Stadium.

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 ?? KEARYN BACCUS Picture: Backpagepi­x ??
KEARYN BACCUS Picture: Backpagepi­x

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