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Kaizer Chiefs players during a training session.
Kaizer Chiefs firmly believe the Betway Premiership title is still within their grasp. Having played two games fewer than the log leaders, Orlando Pirates, Amakhosi are currently fourth on the log after 15 matches – just eight points behind their Soweto rivals.
They will play two massive games this week to try to close the gap and climb up the ladder.
Although it’s Derby week, Kaizer Chiefs are taking it one game at a time.
They host bitter rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday in the much-anticipated derby.
But first, they take on a tricky Stellenbosch FC — also at the FNB Stadium — on Tuesday evening.
Amakhosi have improved in leaps and bounds after finishing 10th last season. And they’re well placed to challenge for league honours this season.
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach, Khalil Ben Youssef says, “We are taking each game by game. We will treat each game as a cup game. Now today we have Stellenbosch FC in our minds, we think about Stellenbosch FC. We think only about the game of tomorrow, then when we finish the game of tomorrow, then we start to think about the derby. but we will take it game by game.”
Chiefs have learnt valuable lessons after failing to reach the quarter-finals of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs Defender Zitha Kwinika says, “I think obviously after the last game we had to reflect to see what we did wrong, what we did right and at this point I think this game is very important because I think now we going towards the last batch of games so we know what’s at stake and obviously playing against them it’s one of the most difficult teams to play against. So, I think the boys are aware of the situation at hand.”
Kaizer Chiefs Defender Thabiso Monyane says, “We are running our own race as well. We are not solely focussed on other teams. Like I said, from where we were last season to where we are now, it’s a massive improvement you know and I’am very happy to be here. we are running our own race like I said we are not focused on who’s doing what. that’s how it is.”
With tickets for Saturday’s Soweto derby sold out just hours after they went on sale, organisers are now planning for an incident-free spectacle.
Stadium Management CEO Bertie Grobbelaar says, “What’s encouraging for me, it’s the fact that the club with stadium management, as the venue authority, we made one form decision that we can’t allow the fake ticket holders and over capacity to dictate the game day for us. To achieve a more fan-friendly experience, we need to improve on the access control to the venue.”
Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung says, “It’s a bumper week for football. I was saying to the team, it seems like we are going to have a superbowl of football happening here on the weekend, and we are very excited about that. talking about the derby that’s why Bertie and I are here we want to engage with all our stakeholders particularly our supporters and football loving people so say first and foremost we are in for an amazing derby but we are asking that supporters work with us it’s important that as event holders run the events properly, do everything to make sure the experience is exciting.”
This season’s race for the league title features the elite and is likely to go down to the wire.
Defending champions are also in the running and can reclaim top spot on the log if they manage to beat Amazulu in Durban in Tuesday’s other fixture.
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