Build up to big clash at the Calabash continues

KAIZER Chiefs cannot afford to drop points against Golden Arrows this afternoon after Orlando Pirates’ win against Maritzburg United on Friday night.

Chiefs and Pirates will meet in the Soweto derby on Saturday (February 25).

Up for grabs are three points that could boost either of the teams’ bid for a top-two finish, which guarantees qualification for the Champions League.

Building up to that titanic battle at the Calabash, Pirates have already done their bit in terms of preparations and injecting confidence as they beat Maritzburg 2-1 at home.

Pirates’ victory, which was propelled by goals from Monnapule Saleng and Terrence Dzvukamanja, took them up to third on the standings and three points ahead of the fifth-placed Chiefs.

The baton has since been passed on to Chiefs to come out tops against Abafana Bes’thende, who’ll be tough customers to crack as they want to climb up the table as well. And albeit playing at home and fresh from beating Maritzburg 2-0 in the Nedbank Cup last 32, Amakhosi will still guard against complacency in today’s clash.

“It’s about the mindset and how you prepare the players to focus on this one before playing in the derby itself,” Chiefs’ coach Arthur Zwane said.

“We are trying to make sure that the players understand that we are taking it one game at a time. We are focusing on ourselves and that’s the only way we can get it right and improve our game.”

Chiefs’ camp has been rocked by injuries in the past few weeks – a feat that led to Zwane having to chop and change his squad almost week in and week out.

Last weekend, veteran defender Eric Mathoho joined the long list of injuries that already includes the likes of Caleb Bimenyimana, Nkosngiphile Ngcobo, Reeve Frosler and Khama Billiat.

However, there’ve been some plays that have come out of the fringes to fill in the voids, including midfielder Siyethemba

Sithebe, who’s been exceptional in the past two games.

The dreadlocked Sithebe is happy to be back and playing his part in the team after being dropped to the bench – having started matches upon his arrival at the club in July.

“As a player when you are not playing, you must work hard at training, so that when you get your chance you can play again, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” he said.

“I was always in the 18-man match-day squad. So, when the coach brought me back, I told myself if I can do what I know best, maybe I could revive my confidence.”

Having been signed from Amazulu, albeit being frozen out of the team for the second half of last season after signing a pre-contract with Chiefs, Sithebe knows his former KZN rivals Arrows well.

“We know how they play, but our preparations have been going well because the whole squad is confident that we can do well,” said Sithebe ahead of the clash they won 2-0 in the reverse fixture.