By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs will be keen to give themselves a boost in Saturday’s Premier Soccer League match against Cape Town City after disappointing their fans in the Soweto Derby.
After being beaten 3-2 by Orlando Pirates in their last league game three weeks ago, Amakhosi have complicated their top-two bid.
Placed seventh on the table, they now have four points less than the Buccaneers who are second with 10 league games remaining.
The Soweto Derby defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Chiefs, leaving them with a mission to rescue their standing thnis season.
Despite Chiefs’ derby setback, City coach Eric Tinkler still fears the Amakhosi attack.
“They are still a team that is extremely dangerous on the counter with a lot of speed up front,” Tinkler told the media.
“Their threat up front is massive and they seem to be utilising it more successfully than they were at the beginning of the season.”
Amakhosi has welcomed back goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma who was on international duty in Algeria with Banana Bafana.
Teenage attacker Mfundo Vilakazi also returns from the South Africa Under-20 camp free of injuries while defender Edmilson Dove is back from suspension.
Central midfielders Yusuf Maart and Edson Castillo are suspended but coach Cavin Johnson can turn to Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Samkelo Zwane.
Both Chiefs and City go into Saturday’s match after three weeks without competitive action.
“I think the Fifa break came at a good time,” Tinkler said.
“We needed to try and fix certain areas of our game and try to get certain key players back to fitness.
“We had a lot of injuries, suspensions and players moving, so I don’t think the concentration and focus were there.”
The City coach has cast doubt on forward Khanyisa Mayo as he said the player is fatigued after coming from Bafana duty.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo under the challenge of Cape Town City’s Taahir Goedeman.
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
