A Kaizer Chiefs on the rebound will play to prove coach Steve Komphela deserves his position‚ said captain Siphiwe Tshabalala ahead of Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal Soweto derby rematch at FNB Stadium.
Ahead of last Saturday’s league 3-1 defeat against Pirates‚ Komphela had described the Buccaneers as wounded tigers.
It would appear the thorny paw is on the other foot‚ as Chiefs find themselves on the rebound from that defeat‚ though also buoyed by a 3-1 midweek league victory against Lamontville Golden Arrows at FNB.
Chiefs have lost just once in the PSL and are in fifth place after 10 matches. But an alarmingly flat 1-0 defeat in the MTN8 final against Ajax Cape Town in September and Pirates’ domination on Saturday have raised question marks of last season’s league and cup double winners’ big match temperament under Komphela‚ who replaced Stuart Baxter in the off-season.
Tshabalala said he and his team-mates are aware a victory against their Nemesis would go a long way removing question marks on the coach.
“We respect Bra Steve‚ and enjoy working with him‚” the Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
“He’s a quality coach. I think he just needs to be given a chance. We reached and MTN8 final — sadly we lost it. In the league we’re in the top five and have only lost once.
“So I think coach Steve needs to be given an opportunity. But as players too we need to fight for him and ourselves as well.
“We cannot go out on Saturday with revenge at the back of our minds or not wanting to lose. This is a game that requires mental strength and physical strength‚ and one has to be smart as well.
“But we will do our best‚ and we’ll play for our coach‚ and show everyone that he deserves to be coach of Kaizer Chiefs.”
Chiefs meet a Pirates side who have finally shown their first sign at any sort of consistency in the league this season with their first back-to-back victories of 2015-16. The Caf Confederation Cup finalists followed up their derby win with Wednesday night’s 2-1 away victory against Ajax Cape Town.
“The coach told us we have to change the approach — it’s just a mental thing‚” Bucs midfielder Thabo Rakhale said.
“I believe it was just a matter of luck. The past two games we’ve managed to score goals‚ whereas before we weren’t converting those chances.”
Rakhale does not believe a Chiefs defence who have lost central defender Tefu Mashamaite from last season‚ have lost any of their edge. Amakhosi have conceded just eight goals in 10 games‚ but did look brittle in Saturday’s derby‚ especially when confronted with the skills and running of Bucs forward Kermit Erasmus.
“For me they have one of the best defences in the league‚” Rakhale said.
“It was just that on the day it was our day‚ and we were giving our best. Looking at the defensive combinations that they have‚ all of them are quality players. Coming to Saturday’s game‚ I think we will see a different performance from them.”
Both sides are expected to bring back front line players who were rested or rotated in midweek. For Chiefs Siboniso Gaxa‚ Siphiwe Tshabalala‚ Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Camaldine Abraw seem certain to return.
Pirates should bring back Ayanda Gcaba‚ Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza.
Question marks over Amakhosi’s BMT under Komphela
A Kaizer Chiefs on the rebound will play to prove coach Steve Komphela deserves his position‚ said captain Siphiwe Tshabalala ahead of Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal Soweto derby rematch at FNB Stadium.
Ahead of last Saturday’s league 3-1 defeat against Pirates‚ Komphela had described the Buccaneers as wounded tigers.
It would appear the thorny paw is on the other foot‚ as Chiefs find themselves on the rebound from that defeat‚ though also buoyed by a 3-1 midweek league victory against Lamontville Golden Arrows at FNB.
Chiefs have lost just once in the PSL and are in fifth place after 10 matches. But an alarmingly flat 1-0 defeat in the MTN8 final against Ajax Cape Town in September and Pirates’ domination on Saturday have raised question marks of last season’s league and cup double winners’ big match temperament under Komphela‚ who replaced Stuart Baxter in the off-season.
Tshabalala said he and his team-mates are aware a victory against their Nemesis would go a long way removing question marks on the coach.
“We respect Bra Steve‚ and enjoy working with him‚” the Bafana Bafana midfielder said.
“He’s a quality coach. I think he just needs to be given a chance. We reached and MTN8 final — sadly we lost it. In the league we’re in the top five and have only lost once.
“So I think coach Steve needs to be given an opportunity. But as players too we need to fight for him and ourselves as well.
“We cannot go out on Saturday with revenge at the back of our minds or not wanting to lose. This is a game that requires mental strength and physical strength‚ and one has to be smart as well.
“But we will do our best‚ and we’ll play for our coach‚ and show everyone that he deserves to be coach of Kaizer Chiefs.”
Chiefs meet a Pirates side who have finally shown their first sign at any sort of consistency in the league this season with their first back-to-back victories of 2015-16. The Caf Confederation Cup finalists followed up their derby win with Wednesday night’s 2-1 away victory against Ajax Cape Town.
“The coach told us we have to change the approach — it’s just a mental thing‚” Bucs midfielder Thabo Rakhale said.
“I believe it was just a matter of luck. The past two games we’ve managed to score goals‚ whereas before we weren’t converting those chances.”
Rakhale does not believe a Chiefs defence who have lost central defender Tefu Mashamaite from last season‚ have lost any of their edge. Amakhosi have conceded just eight goals in 10 games‚ but did look brittle in Saturday’s derby‚ especially when confronted with the skills and running of Bucs forward Kermit Erasmus.
“For me they have one of the best defences in the league‚” Rakhale said.
“It was just that on the day it was our day‚ and we were giving our best. Looking at the defensive combinations that they have‚ all of them are quality players. Coming to Saturday’s game‚ I think we will see a different performance from them.”
Both sides are expected to bring back front line players who were rested or rotated in midweek. For Chiefs Siboniso Gaxa‚ Siphiwe Tshabalala‚ Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Camaldine Abraw seem certain to return.
Pirates should bring back Ayanda Gcaba‚ Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza.
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