Chiefs, City eye top spot
Title-chasers in Caf matches, picking up points is the goal
WITHOUT the distraction of continental matches, Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City again have an opportunity to take over the lead of the Absa Premiership today.
Last weekend the Cape side went top, followed by Chiefs in second place, until the midweek round of matches allowed Bidvest Wits to regain ground.
With the Clever Boys, Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns again involved in CAF assignments – as well as Platinum Stars – the lead is likely to change again.
Chiefs can go two points clear with victory in the early night game.
They face struggling rookies Highlands Park at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in the last of three league matches the Soweto giants are hosting in Durban as part of an arrangement with the stadium.
Earlier this season they drew with Baroka FC and beat Ajax Cape Town 2-0 at the venue.
A fifth win in succession will further fuel Chiefs’ title aspirations.
Besides having only domestic matters to deal with, Chiefs are finding better rhythm as senior players Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker and Willard Katsande lead the charge with sparkling performances.
On top of that, winger George Lebese is back from injury, Togolese forward Camaldine Abraw is working his way to full fitness and Venezuelan striker Gustavo Paez offers the side greater attacking options.
The competition is weaker in the middle of the table, where Golden Arrows will this afternoon seek to cement their top eight spot with a win over visiting Free State Stars at KwaMashu’s Princess Magogo Stadium.
A second consecutive home win will enable Arrows to overtake Polokwane City for sixth place if the Limpopo outfit drop points against Ajax Cape Town in another afternoon game. Neither side can threaten Sundowns in fifth spot, because the Brazilians enjoy a three-point lead with a healthy goal difference.
Arrows coach Clinton Larsen is confident that with a slight improvement from the first half of the season they should finish in the top half.
“For anyone to finish in the top eight at least 40 or 41 points should do it. We have 23, so if we get another 22 or 23 points we’ll get there,” said Larsen.
Larsen expects a busy afternoon against a Free State team fighting relegation. However, he’s optimistic that “if the senior players can control the crucial moments better”, they should have enough quality to bank full points.
Arrows are without suspended Malawian striker Chiukepo Msowoya, but buoyed by two other recent signings, defender Nkosinathi Mthiyane and striker Knox Mutizwa, who combined for the latter to score when they made their home debut in a 2-1 win over Bloemfontein Celtic last weekend.
In the First Division, the pick of the matches is tomorrow’s provincial derby between unbeaten log leaders Thanda Royal Zulu and promotion hopefuls AmaZulu.
Durban giants AmaZulu go to Richards Bay on the back of a 2-1 midweek home loss against Mthatha Bucks.
Usuthu coach, Zimbabwean Joey Antipas, said only hard work will help against Thanda.
“We have to pick up our game and at least stay in the race for a play-off place. I believe if we can continue working harder, not lose focus, and up our fighting spirit then there are a lot of games to play where we can get it right,” he said.