KAIZER Chiefs will rotate players for their Absa Premiership match against Polokwane City tomorrow, following their 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs had five players returning from duty for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Nigeria.
Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter played a full-strength team against Sundowns, but said he will rest some of his wearied players against Polokwane City at Peter Mokaba Stadium tomorrow.
"I took Mandla Masango off at half time because I thought he was defending deep and didn't have the energy to make the runs he normally does," the Chiefs coach said.
"I think it was based on the fact Mandla wasn't himself. I'm guessing a few others were affected too, so we will have to rotate a few players."
A somewhat frustrating match-up between the title contenders was scrappy in the first half, but improved in the second. Teko Modise scored a quality opener for Sundowns from just outside the area in the 54th minute, with George Lebese sweeping in an equaliser in the 67th.
Chiefs would have been more satisfied with the result, but Baxter was still disappointed his side could not get into the game more.
"I was most disappointed with the inability - and we know Sundowns like to have possession of the ball - to make sure we could decide where they got it as much as we could," the Chiefs coach said.
Sundowns' Pitso Mosimane had more reason to be disappointed. Had striker Cuthbert Malajila taken a good chance to make it 2-0, one-on-one with Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, Downs would probably have won. The Brazilians went to their fourth league draw in succession.
"We could have won. It's just that we need a certain something. We don't convert as much as we create," Mosimane said.
"But we played a quality team. I think these two sides can go into the CAF Champions League next year and bring this same quality."
The Fifa period probably played a role disrupting the rhythm of both teams. Mosimane sees the fixtures situation becoming more complex next year, when there will be a break in the PSL for the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February, and four SA clubs competing in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Baxter looks to keep 'tired' Chiefs fresh
KAIZER Chiefs will rotate players for their Absa Premiership match against Polokwane City tomorrow, following their 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs had five players returning from duty for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Nigeria.
Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter played a full-strength team against Sundowns, but said he will rest some of his wearied players against Polokwane City at Peter Mokaba Stadium tomorrow.
"I took Mandla Masango off at half time because I thought he was defending deep and didn't have the energy to make the runs he normally does," the Chiefs coach said.
"I think it was based on the fact Mandla wasn't himself. I'm guessing a few others were affected too, so we will have to rotate a few players."
A somewhat frustrating match-up between the title contenders was scrappy in the first half, but improved in the second. Teko Modise scored a quality opener for Sundowns from just outside the area in the 54th minute, with George Lebese sweeping in an equaliser in the 67th.
Chiefs would have been more satisfied with the result, but Baxter was still disappointed his side could not get into the game more.
"I was most disappointed with the inability - and we know Sundowns like to have possession of the ball - to make sure we could decide where they got it as much as we could," the Chiefs coach said.
Sundowns' Pitso Mosimane had more reason to be disappointed. Had striker Cuthbert Malajila taken a good chance to make it 2-0, one-on-one with Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, Downs would probably have won. The Brazilians went to their fourth league draw in succession.
"We could have won. It's just that we need a certain something. We don't convert as much as we create," Mosimane said.
"But we played a quality team. I think these two sides can go into the CAF Champions League next year and bring this same quality."
The Fifa period probably played a role disrupting the rhythm of both teams. Mosimane sees the fixtures situation becoming more complex next year, when there will be a break in the PSL for the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February, and four SA clubs competing in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
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