Tsepo Masilela is looking forward to Saturday evening’s clash against Ajax Cape Town at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium (kick-off is at 18:00). “We have prepared well,” the Kaizer Chiefs left-back says. “However, teams always bring their A-game when facing us and Ajax will do the same.”

Masilela points out that Ajax’s crosses into the box are always dangerous, especially with a tall and good header of the ball like Nathan Paulse. “We need to stop these crosses from coming into the box,” he comments.

A disadvantage is that Erick Mathoho will miss Saturday’s fixture due to a family bereavement: “We will definitely miss Tower.”

Chiefs had been on a roll before the recent Fifa-break, having won the last three league matches. Masilela, however, feels that it will be too easy to say that the break came at the wrong time for the Amakhosi. “Let’s see after the game,” he reacts with a smile on his face. “Anyway, it’s something we had no control over as it is dictated by Fifa.”

The 31-year-old started the season, as usual in the past few seasons, as Chiefs’ left-back, but in recent matches Sibusiso Khumalo has been the preferred choice for that position.

Masilela, however, makes clear that he’s not worried: “There is always competition for places in a top side. I will wait for my chance. But what’s important is that the team comes first. The team is winning and that’s what we all want.”

Chiefs are at present on top of the Absa Premiership log with 10 points from five matches, but Masilela doesn’t want to read too much into that: “Of course, we would like to stay there, but it’s still early days. Besides that, Mamelodi Sundowns have, for example, only played one league match so far.”

Tickets for the Ajax match are sold at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers at R60.