Skipper Furman wary of Chiefs’ firepower
JOHANNESBURG: Supersport United skipper Dean Furman understands that league matches and cup competitions are a different kettle of fish; hence he’s still wary of Kaizer Chiefs’ firepower that hammered Free State Stars 3-0 in the MTN 8 quarter-finals. Supersport will host Chiefs first over the two-legged semi-final contest of the MTN 8 competition - this Sunday at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium (kick-off 3pm). The return leg is set for FNB Stadium on September 1 (8.15pm).
“In the quarter-finals we sat off and allowed Pirates too much space off the ball and that is something that we don’t want to do with Chiefs because we know that they’ve got some fantastic players going forward,’’ Furman said. “We also want to stop them from getting the ball. One other thing that we also want to work on is applying a little bit of pressure to the ball, to stop their forward players from getting themselves into the game. And that will certainly help us along the way.’’
In the league Amakhosi have drawn three times and lost once. Furman and company recently recorded back-to-back wins against Amazulu and Bidvest Wits. The 30-year-old midfielder is optimistic that with a clean bill of health this season, they can avoid the inconsistent performances from last season. They won the MTN8 trophy and reached their maiden Caf Confederations Cup final but nearly lost their top-flight status.
“We had a good break – in the preseason – and there are not many players in the injury room. We hope for a clean bill of health, hence there’s more optimism to do well this season.’’
He added: “Last campaign there was a mixture of results and I think because we didn’t have an off-season that caught up with us. We were hit by fatigue, injuries and unfortunately that showed in our league form.’’
Furman believes they owe some of their bright start to new coach Kaitano Tembo who served within the club structures for several years but was only recently given the coaching role on a permanent basis.
“From the moment he took over (last season), the players have always seen him as the coach,’’ Furman said. “We’ve known each other for a long time, so when he stepped up to be a full-time coach, we were fully behind him. I think he’s brought togetherness in the team so far. And we’ll get the results through the tightening of the team’’
Supersport will be banking on a clean sheet at home, if they are to make the final and keep their chances of retaining their MTN8 trophy alive.
@Mihlalibaleka KAIZER CHIEFS football manager Bobby Motaung has made the bold claim that striker Lebogang Manyama has always wanted to play for Amakhosi.
While promising “one or two” more signings after the club landed Manyama’s signature on a three-year deal from Turkish outfit Konyaspor yesterday, Motaung insisted that the player should have been at Naturena five years ago.
“This player was supposed to join us as far back as when he was at Ajax Cape Town (in 2013) when Stuart Baxter was here. We had agreed on everything when his agent disappeared and the player turned out at SuperSport United. I don’t want to mention people’s names but things were done above board this time,” Motaung said.
“We know that he has always wanted to be here, but of course that didn’t happen. He has come back from Turkey now and brings a lot of experience and quality to our team, which is something we have always emphasised given the pressure we are under.”
Manyama received his international clearance from Konyaspor, where he only spent a season and made 11 appearances, late last month, which freed him to join a club of his choice. Motaung suggested, however, that they had to compensate the Turkish club for the former Cape Town City captain. “Nothing is for free, obviously,” he said. “I can’t mention the figures and all that, but we had to have discussions in order to get the player to come to us and I am happy we did.
“The timing is right now for him to join us and the difference between now and when we tried to sign him the first time is that his agent (Maimane Phiri) was here to conclude the deal.”
Amakhosi have been under pressure to bolster the team on the back of three years without winning a trophy and the tepid start under new coach Giovanni Solinas.
The Italian is still searching for his first PSL win after two draws and a defeat in his opening three league matches. Chiefs face SuperSport in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final on Sunday.
Manyama, who won the coveted Football of the Year award in South Africa while playing for City in 2017, was disgruntled in Turkey and had been linked with various clubs before Chiefs pounced.
“It is still a process and we are looking at signing two or more players. We told the coach that we can’t sign players at the same time because we also need his input,” said Motaung. “He remembers Manyama from when he coached Free State Stars and he is excited that this is a player that will bring quality and value.
“We are signing players to try and help with fatigue. We are looking into the next couple of months also because we will be involved in the Caf Confederation Cup and we need depth,” Motaung said.