Chiefs’ hopes rest on solid foundations
AmaKhosi’s Rock | Revitalised Mashamaite sees African challenge as an adventure
THE impressive structure Kaizer Chiefs have shown while professionally notching up results domestically could stand them in good stead in the Caf Champions League, defender Tefu Mashamaite said ahead of today’s tie against AS Vita Club in Kinshasa.
Mashamaite, the ever-present Chiefs’ defender this season, joins his teammates on a potentially nightmarish trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first leg of the secondround tie, the penultimate round before the group stages.
League leaders Amakhosi produced two more big victories in the Absa Premiership this week against Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town.
Efficient aggregate wins in previous rounds of the Caf competition — 4-1 against Namibians Black Africa and 7-0 against Liga Muculmana of Mozambique — have raised hopes that Stuart Baxter’s well-
We’ve got a good group of spirited dreamers who want to achieve something
oiled machine could follow last year’s finalists Orlando Pirates into the group stages.
“For sure, if you’ve got a structure, the battle is half won,” Mashamaite said. “We’re doing well. We’ve got a good group of spirited dreamers who want to achieve something.
“In your position you know what’s expected of you. Kgotso Moleko came in against Ajax and did well even though he’s hardly played. Reyaad Pieterse came in for Itumeleng Khune and has done well. Matthew Rusike performs as a sub.”
Defending PSL champions Chiefs have looked an even more bonded side in Baxter’s second season. And, perhaps crucially, striker Knowledge Musona showed signs of his best with a brace in the 2-0 midweek win against Ajax.
“When he came back [from German club Augsburg on loan], he was not struggling, but just wanted to hit that right note,” Mashamaite said. “He’s starting to show that quality and what he’s made of.”
Mashamaite, who had a poor first season at Chiefs under Vladimir Vermezovic, has blossomed under Baxter. His 22 league appearances this season are the most in the Chiefs squad, as the former Bidvest Wits player has eclipsed Morgan Gould and Mulomowandau Mathoho in the pecking order in central defence.
“It’s a humbling experience, from being not expected to do much, to what I’m doing now. In our society, sometimes people want to pigeon-hole you. And if you drop your standards to what they expect, it’s a failure,” Mashamaite said
Vita have had the tougher run to the current stage, beating Nigeria’s Kano Pillars 4-3 on aggregate and Dynamos of Zimbabwe 1-0. They present Chiefs’ first proper obstacle, and are certain to try and maximise home-ground advantage.
It’s not certain what reception Chiefs will receive, let alone the sort of officiating they should expect. But they will have been warned by Pirates’ hellish trip to Lubumbashi last year for the infamous “TV blackout” game against TP Mazembe.
Vita’s stadium in Kinshasa is bigger, and has a reputation for being more hostile, and SA TV houses have not obtained the rights to broadcast the game. Refreshingly, Mashamaite said such a prospect should be viewed as an adventure.
“We’re expecting tough conditions. But as much as people say we are going into Africa, we are in Africa. It’s about time we know that this is our continent and we are privileged to be a bit ahead in terms of having good structures in place.
“We need to see it more as an adventure than an obstacle. As much as Pirates came back from DRC with horror stories, their end result was a positive one.
“So why can’t we? I don’t want to come back and say I had s**t food and a s**t bed. I just want to face whatever I’m given and come back with a positive result.
“With Wits, I went to Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania [in the Confederation Cup]. I’ve no complaints about any of them. We claim to be in the top 10 leagues in the world. If we’re going to claim that, we have to go out and compete with whatever situation we encounter.”
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It’s about time we know that this is our continent and we are privileged