Maritzburg United must find ways to outfox Chiefs
● Maritzburg United have a big task in overcoming a Kaizer Chiefs outfit that’s been brutal in their seven-match winning run ahead of today’s Telkom Knockout semifinal at the Mbombela Stadium.
Amakhosi’s run in five league matches include their 3-2 victory over bitter rivals Orlando Pirates, the same team they defeated on penalties in Durban in order to host Eric Tinkler’s side in Mpumalanga today.
Being gutsy and refusing to give up is what has brought Tinkler’s charges to the verge of playing in their first TKO final. But to realise their dream Maritzburg must find ways to outfox a team they usually struggle to beat even when Chiefs are at a low ebb.
Maritzburg last beat Chiefs in 2015 but even that defeat didn’t stop Chiefs from winning their last league title. In 10 matches after that the Team of Choice has lost seven and drew three times against Chiefs, making them unlikely to pull any surprises today.
That that is even so when Chiefs will be minus three — Daniel Akpeyi, Willard Katsande and Eric Mathoho — of their dependable players through suspension, says a lot about Ernst Middendorp’s team’s resilience, form and depth this season.
“(Itumeleng) Khune might be back, we don’t know,” was Tinkler’s response when told of Chiefs missing players in today’s encounter.
Khune, the Chiefs skipper and No 1 goalkeeper, was indeed confirmed by his club on Friday to be “fully fit” and ready to compete in today’s match if Middendorp chooses to field him.
“They’ve got so many options. (Siyabonga) Ngezana might have been away with the under-23s but they’ve got (Kgotso) Moleko and (Lorenzo) Gordinho. They’ve got replacements. (Kearyn) Baccus is probably back too,” was Tinkler’s top-of-the-head confirmation of Chiefs’ options.
The Maritzburg coach has a tough decision of his own to make, especially in goal where he might have to bring in the experience of their Ghanaian and No 1 goalie, Richard Ofori, in the place of Bongani Mpandle.
The latter was a hero for Tinkler’s team in their penalty shootout wins over Bidvest Wits (3-1) and Highlands Park (4-3). But those games were played when Maritzburg were more concerned about their start in the league.
Given Chiefs’ attacking prowess, which Tinkler has acknowledged, Ofori is likely to be back to shore up the defence that includes Nazeer Allie, Siyanda Xulu and the young Rushine De Reuck, who has been a revelation this season.