Onyango not fazed by Chiefs
BONGINKOSE NDADANE
THE 10-point gap that separates Kaizer Chiefs and the reigning Absa Premiership champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, doesn’t worry Denis Onyango as he feels that Amakhosi will not lead from start to finish.
Chiefs have occupied the No 1 position for the longest time this campaign while teams like Sundowns have been trying to catch-up. While Chiefs were dominant, Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits were stuttering. Amakhosi made the most of that by creating a huge gap between them and the chasing pack. But with the league race in the final stretch, the chasing pack have found their groove and they are eyeing toppling Chiefs.
“All we need to do is to win our games and hope for them to lose a few games,” Sundowns’ goalkeeper, Onyango, pictured, said.
“At the moment it is not in our hands. All we need to do is to win our game and to keep believing because I don’t believe that anyone can stay on top of the log from start to finish. Of course, they are 10 points ahead of us, but anything is possible in football. As long as you win and put pressure on them.
“They have an edge because they are leading with a lot of points with few games to go. It’s not going to be easy (for us) because we still have to play them at FNB (Stadium). At the moment it is in their hands, but we just have to keep believing.”
Chiefs have 11 games remaining while Sundowns have 12 matches. The Brazilians host Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld this afternoon. Shortly after the end of that match Amakhosi will take on Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium.
The Brazilians have struggled against the Chilli Boys in the past with most of their matches turning out to be tightly contested affairs.
“It’s going to be a very difficult game because they give us problems all the time, and at the same time they have been winning,” Onyango said of their Chippa challenge.
“I believe that it is going to be a good game for us and the supporters because they like playing good football. I don’t think that the game will have a lot of chances.”
The league is not Sundowns’ only challenge.
They also have CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup commitments.
But their priorities are the Absa Premiership and the Champions League. Sundowns have made a name for themselves in the continent with their exploits in the Champions League.
They will take on Al-ahly over two legs in the quarterfinals, starting next week in Egypt before hosting the return leg in Pretoria on the first weekend of March.
“We must focus on both the league and the Champions because the league gives us a ticket to play in the Champions League,” Onyango said.
“If we don’t win the league (or finish second) we won’t be able to play Champions League football next season.
“The Champions League is still in our hands, until we are done with it but in the league it’s in other people’s hands. As I said, no one can stay on top forever.
“We hope something happens. But at the moment it’s in their hands.
“We are also looking at the Champions League even though it’s always tough to play against the north Africans, especially with there being six of them in the quarterfinals. It’s all about us believing.”