By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are set for a potentially explosive Carling Knockout quarter-final showdown at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
One team’s cup dreams will end as both sides are desperate for the beer cup in a fixture viewed as a final before the final.
Chiefs are keen on winning their first trophy since 2015, while Sundowns cannot afford to reel out of another cup competition after missing out on the MTN8.
Amakhosi coach Nasreddine Nabi has watered down expectations on his men to win the Premier Soccer League title as well as cup competitions.
“There is nothing we can do about the schedule, but since the start of the season a lot of things have happened; collectively, the team has improved and we are aiming to do better on Saturday,” Nabi told the media.
“There are some media people that are trying to portray Kaizer Chiefs as title contenders and as a team that will win a trophy immediately, which is not the case.”
The Soweto giants go into Saturday’s match with what looks like a leaky defence, having kept only one clean sheet in six outings across all competitions.
They have also failed to win their last two games going into the Sundowns showdown.
But Masandawana senior coach Steve Komphela is refusing to read into that and views Chiefs as strong.
“They do have their strengths and they have their weaknesses,” said Komphela. “But there has been a significant element of belief, positiveness; there’s an aura and there’s the energy you feel. That energy comes from the results they acquired and how they see things unfolding.”
To reach the Carling Cup quarter-finals, Chiefs saw off SuperSport United 4-0, while Sundowns ran riot to hammer Golden Arrows 5-0.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Pule Mmodi tries to negotiate his way past Mamelodi Sundowns players.
Source: Kaizer Chiefs
