Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Chiefs, AmaZulu set for ‘warm-up’
KAIZER Chiefs will want to send a strong message to AmaZulu in the Premiership at FNB Stadium this evening ahead of their MTN8 semifinal clash next month.
The Soweto giants have blown hot and cold in the opening matches of the season, having won two league games and lost three before progressing to the Wafa Wafa Cup semis last Sunday.
Marred by a litany of cringeworthy moments, their 4-3 penalty shootout win over Stellies in the quarter-final was not pretty. They conceded from another defensive blunder in regulation time.
They can’t afford such mistakes against an Usuthu side that has
Bongi Ntuli, Augustine Kwem and Gabadinho Mhango who have shown strength of capitalising on the opposition flaws.
Usuthu’s neighbours, Golden Arrows, meet Chippa United in KwaMashu this afternoon. Both teams have racked up only five points, thanks to one win, two draws and two losses.
They’ll hope to build on their last games – Chippa drew with TS Galaxy, while Arrows beat AmaZulu.
Chippa coach Daine Klate is in his debut senior season, but he knows that if he doesn’t get results that could upset “trigger-happy“boss Chippa Mpengesi who doesn’t sleep over the decision of firing a coach.
Coaching duo Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Mabhuti Khenyeza are not safe either, given that boss Mato Madlala has a knack of sacking underperformers.
It’s still early days, but it appears that the recruitment strategy of new kids Richards Bay is paying off. They won two games, lost one and drew two.
Their character will be tested away to a Stellies side that is looking for their first win in three matches, after two draws and one loss in the league.
Meanwhile, Royal AM have had a roller-coaster start to the season.
They beat Kaizer Chiefs before losing twice at home to Orlando Pirates so far.
They’ll visit Sekhukhune United in Polokwane knowing that a win will lift the load off their shoulders before they start their African safari.
Co-coach Dan Malesela knows that catch-up matches are not matches won.
And that's why they’ll have to collect as many points while they still can.
After all, teams such as Sekhukhune are also keen on finishing in a better position this season after missing out on the top eight by a whisker last term.
Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit will serve the last treat of the day when high-flying TS Galaxy host Cape Town City who’ve had a slow start.
Coach Sead Ramovic’s troops are unbeaten and yet to concede after two wins and three draws in five league games since the start.
Things haven’t gone according to the script for the Citizens ahead of their CAF Champions League debut campaign.
They have managed only one win so far.