Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Chiefs beware ... SuperSport are not an easy team in Nelspruit
IN a vulnerable state following two successive defeats – one in the cup and another in the league – Thuso Phala wants to see SuperSport United add more misery to what’s been a woeful week for Kaizer Chiefs.
“I think they are obviously under pressure,” says Phala. “Their confidence is a bit dented because we knocked them out of the Nedbank Cup and then they lost to Cape Town City. If we beat them that means we bring them closer to us in terms of the points difference. I believe we are genuinely still in this mini-race for the league title.”
While Chiefs fumbled in the 3-2 defeat on Tuesday night, SuperSport went to Bidvest Wits and returned home with all three points. Although they remained in fifth place, nine points behind log leaders City, they cut the defict between them and the other sides in the top five.
“We are not an easy team to play in Nelspruit,” adds Phala, and he is properly backed by two notable wins – the 6-1 win over Orlando Pirates as well as the 2-0 victory over Wits in November last year. “I think we are more confident than they are as we have managed two consecutive wins.”
Chiefs aren’t going to be slouches, and they were in fact unbeaten in 14 games in all competitiions until the cup defeat at FNB Stadium last weekend. Amakhosi also had numerous glorious chances to win against City, but their poor finishing let them down.
SuperSport have now won two in two, albeit beating Chiefs on penalties and benefitting from a horrendous defensive error for Phala to score the winner against Wits.
“Our confidence took a knock,” says Phala as he recalls three succesive league defeats – to Baroka FC and twice to crosstown rivals Mamelodi Sundowns. “It was difficult to motivate everyone after losing to Baroka and having two games a week made it difficult to immediately bounce back. We were going for a record (20 games unbeaten in the league) and they spoiled that. Then we went to Sundowns and defended badly and lost 5-0, but showed signs of bouncing back when we lost 1-0 a week later. We probably deserved a point at least. We worked on our defence and it is showing that we are very solid and I think our finishing is also getting better.”
Chiefs, fourth on the log and four points beind the leaders, were hopeful of seeing goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune return to action against SuperSport after a hip injury ruled him out of the trip to Cape Town midweek. Bruce Bvuma, 21, deputised for Khune and got a baptism of fire on his debut. Khune’s return would bring calmness at the back with Bvuma, although there was not much he could do about the three goals that went past him on Tuesday, certainly made Chiefs fans a little tense. Kick-off: Venue: