Chiefs goalkeeper warns Sundowns to expect war
‘We need to get into the top eight’
Yesterday, it was the original Soweto derby clash between Swallows and Bucs, another needle tie looms large as Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns host Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs in a match pitting old rivals against each other at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane today at 3pm.
No doubt, Chiefs have had one of their most disappointing seasons on the do- mestic front. Before yesterday’s matches they were perched in 11th place on the log following the 2-1 loss to Cape Town City at home and trail Sundowns by an insurmountable 22 points despite having played one match more than the defending champions.
Last season’s league runners-up Amakhosi’s veteran keeper Itumeleng Khune nevertheless believes they can turn the tables against the treble champions. Khune, 33, one of the players who have not been regulars over the past few weeks and is said to be out of favour with coach Gavin Hunt, is of the view today’s clash will be like “going to war”.
“We need to collect the points to get into the top eight. We are going to Pretoria to fight. We are going for the battle. We are going for war,” said Khune. “We are not going there to make it easy for our opponents, and we will take the game to them and not allow them space. We’re not going to allow them to take advantage of the fact that we lost our last game. It hasn’t been an easy season for us from the start.”
Khune promised the Amakhosi faithful they will fight together for the badge. “It takes the whole team to stay switched on throughout the 90 minutes. But as a goalkeeper, you need to lead from the back, keep players on their toes, keep reminding them to stay on their toes.”
Log leaders Downs co-coach Rhulani Mokwena emphasised that despite Chiefs’ woes of having drawn three, lost one and won one of their last five Dstv Premiership matches, they would not underestimate their rivals.
“They still have very good players, with huge pedigrees and good experience. Khama [Billiat), [Samir] Nurkovic, [Lebogang] Manyama and some very good youngsters in [Njabulo] Blom and [Nkosingiphile] Ngcobo. We have a lot of respect for them with a very good coach in Gavin Hunt.”