Johnson: AmaZulu have seen areas of Chiefs’ game they can exploit

DO not read much into AmaZulu’s 3-0 Telkom Knockout defeat to Kaizer Chiefs last month.

Tonight will be a different ball game, with the venue, atmosphere and some of the AmaZulu personnel changed for the PSL clash. And with a bit of luck the result will be different too, hopes AmaZulu coach Cavin Johnson.

Playing this game at the 15 000-capacity King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, instead of Moses Mabhida Stadium, limits the chances of Chiefs supporters significantly outnumbering the home fans.

It means the crowd will be closer to the action, making for a different atmosphere.

Johnson is likely to field midfield workhorse Michael Morton and ex-Chiefs winger Ovidy Karuru to make for a changed line-up to the one in the Cup tie.

These changes, Johnson expects, will filter onto the pitch where Usuthu will aim to be a touch more clinical than in the Cup.

Johnson is still smarting over that defeat, where his team missed two early scoring chances before Amakhosi won with two of their goals coming via deflections.

“In the Cup game I thought if we had put away the chances that Rhulani (Manzini) and Mabhuti (Khenyeza) had, then it could have been a different game. They had two deflected goals, but take nothing away from George Maluleka’s goal, which was well taken,” said Johnson yesterday.

“We have seen areas of their game that we think we can exploit, and they have certain strengths which we will defend. Taking the game to Moses would be like making it a home game for Chiefs. King Zwelithini is our home, and playing there is not normal for Chiefs.”

Morton is back from suspension, while Zimbabwean international Karuru returns following two months out injured. The latter had a forgettable spell with Chiefs two seasons ago, and is eager to make an impact under Johnson.

“I’m ready to play and I thank the coach for this chance to get back into the team. Coming back from an injury, I owe it to the coach and the team to do well. There’s nothing personal or anything for me to prove against Chiefs. The team comes before individual glory and I’m just happy to be back,” said Karuru who joined the Durban outfit late last season during their NFD campaign. Chiefs come to KZN with changes, too. Following the weekend’s 1-0 Cup semifinal loss to Wits, Chiefs will be without midfielder Wiseman Meyiwa who was sent off on Saturday.

The defeat leaves Chiefs coach Steve Komphela with only the league and Nedbank Cup to target for silverware, following two barren seasons under his command. It should therefore be a fired-up Chiefs outfit, said Manzini, but one AmaZulu believe they have the measure of.

“In the previous game we let ourselves down, when Mabhuti and I didn’t convert those chances. And it was from our own mistakes that we conceded three. We have to score first, minimise the mistakes, and I’m sure if we follow the coach’s instructions we’ll be victorious,” said the bulky forward who is second on the scorers’ chart with five goals.