Chiefs seek away comforts at home
PARKER: ALL THE PLAYERS ARE ON PAR WITH SOLINAS’ TACTICS, PHILOSOPHY
Striker says they have done homework on visitors AmaZulu.
With two Absa Premiership wins under their belt following successful trips to Cape Town and Bethlehem, Kaizer Chiefs are now looking to keep the momentum going as they go back to FNB Stadium to face AmaZulu at 6pm this evening.
Amakhosi had their fans brimming with smiles after beating Cape Town City and Free State Stars 4-1 and 2-0 to pocket six points away from home. The Glamour Boys’ forward Bernard Parker admitted it would be awkward for the team to not win at home after doing well away.
“Usually in football, if you win your home games and not do that well on the road, it is considered okay,” said Parker. “But for us winning away and not doing well at home is something to think about. It will be good to win so we can build on it and gain some confidence going forward.
“We know AmaZulu are not strong defensively. We have done our homework. We know they are a hard-running team and have a lot of energy going forward because they are a young team,” added the 32-year-old.
Parker spoke fondly of how the team have easily taken to Giovanni Solinas’ systems and philosophy. “I am glad it looks like the guys understand the coach’s philosophy so early.
“The good thing is that we have been getting the goals. But we have made some mistakes defensively and we have admitted we can learn from that.
“In attack the new guys have shown they bring a new dimension to the team. There is a lot of energy, positivity and flair which is what we have always been look- ing for. Kaizer Chiefs are all about the flair, the skill and the speed. It has showed in the past two games,” he said.
What has also impressed the veteran attacker is that every player in the team is ready to get on with the job which was evident when Solinas made seven changes to the team who beat City when they played Stars in midweek. They still gave a good performance and got the result.
“Even when the coach rotated the team in the last match it got the same results. That shows the coach that everyone is on par with him in terms of understanding the tactics.”
Asweetly-struck sucker-punch from Jabu Maluleke stunned Bidvest Wits last night as 10-man Polokwane City grabbed a fine away victory. The Rise and Shine captain bent a spectacular free kick beyond the reach of Darren Keet in the 75th minute, for the only goal of the game, on an evening when the league leaders were well below-par, even after City’s Salulani Phiri was given his marching orders early in the match.
A late wave of attacks could not even get Gavin Hunt’s men a point as Josef Vukusic’s side defended brilliantly, with Nicola Motloung superb in the heart of the back four, while George Chigova also made some key saves throughout.
City started brightly and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Buhle Mkhwanazi prevented Walter Musona from getting away a clear strike at goal.
Edgar Manaka then put in a fine cross that Rise and Shine’s Bongile Booi headed wide, as Wits struggled to get any attacking momentum.
City’s chances were severely dented after 20 minutes, as Phiri went straight through the back of Thabang Monare, leaving the referee with little option but to issue a straight red card.
The Clever Boys did create some excellent opportunities towards the end of the first half. First Gift Motupa’s flick sent his strike partner Mxolisi Machupu through on goal, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Chigova.
Chigova made a far-easier save from a Monare effort, and then had to be brave right at the end of the half to stop another chance for Machupu.
City started to look dangerous on the counter-attack in the second half and Rodney Ramagalela twice nearly found a way through.
Then City stunned the home crowd as Maluleke’s free kick bent beautifully into the top corner of the net.
Hunt had already thrown on striker Simon Murray, and then put on Zimbabwean Terence Dzvukamanja, as Wits desperately searched for at least an equaliser.
And Dzvukamanja should really have netted after being teed up by Hotto, but shot straight at the legs of Chigova.