Solinas was particularly satisfied that his star forward Khama Billiat could bolster his personal confidence with a hattrick in the 4-0 preliminary round‚ first leg victory at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Amakhosi’s confidence boost against the team from Zanzibar‚ the Tanzanian island just off the coast from capital Dar es Salaam‚ came at a timely moment as it followed Saturday’s 2-1 Soweto derby Telkom Knockout defeat against Orlando Pirates in Durban.

“I am happy because my boys played very well. It was a very good performance‚” Solinas said afterwards.

“It was very important‚ also‚ not to concede a goal‚ because the rules for away goals [doubling them] when you play away are very important.

“So I am happy also because we finished the game without injuries to the players.

“So now we need to focus on the next game‚ because on Saturday we have a very important game.”

Chiefs meet Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu‚ Durban.

Solinas believes his team’s thrashing of Zimamoto – with Billiat scoring in the seventh‚ 60th and 73rd minutes‚ and Kabelo Mahlasela in the 68th – has lifted his team’s mood ahead of their return to KwaZulu-Natal.

“Yes. It’s very important. It’s also very important for example that Billiat scored‚ because goals help strikers with confidence‚” Amakhosi’s coach said.

“But tonight all the players tactically and technically played a good game.

“We completely dominated the game. We not only did not concede a goal‚ we also did not concede a chance.

“For the number of chances we created maybe we could have scored more goals. But it’s OK.

“It’s important that we did not concede.

"It’s important that tonight the players played good football. And this is very important because we will go to the next game against Arrows in a good mood.”