Amakhosi are currently bracing themselves for the MTN8 semi-final second leg match against AmaZulu, which will take place on Sunday, 23 October at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw and Usuthu will enter the return tie with an away goal advantage. Saturday’s kick-off will be at 15:30.
Since the first leg of the tie, AmaZulu have parted ways with head coach, Brandon Truter and appointed Romain Folz in his stead, a move Zwane doesn’t think has weakened them.
“Obviously, their approach will be slightly different because of the new technical staff and you can see they don’t hold back,” he said.
“They attack well and sometimes they vary their game. They like to get the ball forward early but they can also play a good passing game so they are dangerous. I don’t think they will go to (Moses) Mabhida and sit, because they want to protect their advantage and know that if we score then they’ll have to start chasing the game. I expect them to push to try and score first and make us need to score twice. Their coach is a good coach; there’s no doubt about that and it will be end-to-end stuff.”
This could be the first opportunity of the season for Chiefs to push towards a title decider, and Zwane acknowledged that the “expectations of success and silverware”, as well as the recent “dearth of trophies”, had amplified the pressure on the current crop.
“We are part of a club with a great history which is about winning. We know very well that we have to win games and we have to win trophies. I wouldn’t be here as a coach if I had doubts that we’ll win trophies or that I would bring in players that didn’t have the character to play for a club of Kaizer Chiefs’ stature. Once we get to the semi-final, we know we are expected to go all the way to the final. Also, we know that this is the right time for the new players to understand what Kaizer Chiefs is all about.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial clash against TS Galaxy on Wednesday, coach Arthur Zwane made no mention of an injury to Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, but he has now acknowledged there is a “challenge” they are assessing.
“We will get the doctor’s report tomorrow (Friday) because we have an off day today,” Zwane told the media on Thursday. “I don’t know how long he will be out for. What I know is that he has a little challenge here and there but we are still waiting for the doctor’s
Chiefs could also be without Itumeleng Khune. The veteran keeper was set to start in his return against TS Galaxy on Wednesday, but he then felt pain in his knee while warming up, leading to his removal from the starting XI.
Khune was replaced at the last minute by Bruce Bvuma with the match finishing in a 2-2 draw – as reported.
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