Chiefs’ Parker calls for unity in squad

HOT on the heels of an embarrassing Telkom Knockout elimination at the hands of Bidvest Wits on Saturday‚ Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker has called for unity.

Amakhosi have not won a trophy since coach Steve Komphela arrived at the club almost three years ago.

They have the Nedbank Cup and the league championship as a last chance for silverware this season.

Parker‚ who has struggled to score goals consistently this season‚ said being dumped out of the Telkom Knockout was a major setback for their ambitions, but they had to stick together and overcome this difficult period.

He said that only emphasised the need to be “one team‚ one family”.

“As players‚ we clearly understand what we want to achieve during this whole campaign. It’s about togetherness among players‚ the office staff and above all, our supporters.

“We are one family‚ forming a strong unit.

“Together, we will become better and will achieve.”

Amakhosi return to action with a tricky league clash against AmaZulu at Umlazi’s King Zwelithini Stadium tomorrow night and will be looking to get back to winning ways.

ý AmaZulu’s players must not be fans on the field to admire Kaizer Chiefs‚ Usuthu coach Cavin Johnson has said of his team’s second Absa Premiership Durban clash with the Soweto giants in less than a month.

Johnson was apparently referring to AmaZulu’s 3-0 defeat by Chiefs at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium in which this season’s PSL new boys seemed a bit star-struck.

Johnson had another close look at Chiefs when the coach was at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday as 10-man Amakhosi lost 1-0 to Bidvest Wits in the Telkom semifinals.

He said a second half in which Chiefs threw everything at Wits‚ despite being a man down after Wiseman Meyiwa’s 27th-minute red card, meant Usuthu need to be wary of Komphela’s team.

“Wits defended and Chiefs pressed as hard as they could.

“So even with 10 men, Chiefs were still very much in contention for [Saturday’s game].

“We didn’t take the two big opportunities that we had – and then there would have been one goal in it.

“But we don’t go to the game to be fans – to watch Chiefs.

“We go to see some form of weakness.

“We believe we have found some.”

AmaZulu‚ who bought the franchise of promoted Thanda Royal Zulu in the pre season‚ are in a creditable ninth place.

Chiefs are in fifth.