One Zuma who is here to stay
HE HAS ENDEARED HIMSELF TO THE FANS Baroka will be a tough nut to crack away from home.
With many headlines screaming “Zuma to be pushed out” yesterday as news of President Jacob Zuma’s apparent imminent dismissal from his position filtered through, Kaizer Chiefs supporters will hope their Zuma keeps his place when they meet Baroka FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium tomorrow at 3.30pm.
Dumisani Zuma has slowly endeared himself to the Amakhosi faithful with his elegant finishing touches which have seem him score two goals in four substitute appearances.
Even Amakhosi coach Steve Komphela was full of praise for Zuma who scored the winner in their last match where he tapped in from a Joseph Molangoane cross to secure a 2-1 win over Polokwane City.
“Zuma is unbelievable, the guy is a finisher. He is class and that’s what you want. I hope nothing (injuries) happens to him and he must keep banging them in,” said Komphela this week.
Komphela is however likely to have a selection headache for tomorrow’s match as new striker Leonardo Castro has reportedly received his work permit. He will need all his forwards ready and firing on all cylinders if he is to eke out another win.
Komphela had announced that should Castro get his permit, he is likely to make the starting team this week with Gustavo Paez likely to be sacrificed. Paez has not scored in a while and frustration was written all over his face when he was replaced by Zuma in last weekend’s match.
With a win, the Glamour Boys could easily move up to second place and cut the space between them and leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to two points should results of other matches go in their favour. But that is the best-case scenario.
The worst-case scenario meanwhile could be Baroka continuing their dominance which started while they were an amateur team and hand Amakhosi another defeat.
Bakgaga will be buoyed following their impressive 2-0 beating of AmaZulu in their last match and their history against Amakhosi will also be a factor that will inflate their confidence.