Posted in News on Dec 04, 2006.
For the most part, Chiefs have enjoyed matches against Amazulu and have on three occasions in the past been able to get four goals past Amazulu, indeed the last time the two teams met, Chiefs ran out comfortable winners with a
4-1 score line.
On that occasion Chiefs had veteran striker John Shoes Moshoeu to thank as he contributed with a hat trick. It was that victory against Amazulu towards the end of the 2003 – 2004 season, which helped Chiefs clinch their inaugural PSL title crown.
With Moshoeu now plying his trade with Amazulu, it will set up an interesting battle between the veteran striker and his former Amakhosi team mates and friends. Shoes though is aware that if the form book is anything to go by, the outcome of this game should favour Chiefs.
Even though Amazulu are second from bottom of the PSL table and are troubled with a number of administrative and financial issues, Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez is wary of writing off the Usuthu.
Fernandez, speaking after training on Monday said of Chiefs opponents on Wednesday evening “I have read about Amazulu’s problems away from football. We know that they have not had the best of results recently”.
He continued by saying “all of those factors don’t worry us, it can happen that when a team is down they rise up and fight with everything they have. For us the mandate is clear we know we have to play the same kind of disciplined game that we did in our last two league games, that should help us go along way in coming back with three points”.
The Chiefs and Bafana Bafana number one is looking towards Wednesday evening's game with a two fold objective adding “for me I will be aiming to keep a clean sheet on Wednesday evening, and as team victory will put us in a positive frame of mind for our game against Pirates on Saturday”.
There is one more aspect of Wednesday’s game that Rowen is particularly looking forward to as he explains “playing against Shoes Moshoeu is something I am looking forward to, knowing Shoes I am sure he will want to get onto the score sheet and keeping him out will be fun”.
Chiefs travel to Durban without captain Cyril Nzama and possibly Shaun Bartlett, even with the influential pair out Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp is happy with the players at his disposal as he feels that victory against Amazulu might be a difficult prospect but is attainable.
He is also looking forward to renewing his love affair with Durban. Since taking charge of Chiefs at the start of last season, The Amakhosi have only lost one official league or cup game in six outings in Durban with Ernst Middendorp at the helm.
Chiefs will be looking to return from Durban on Thursday with a victory, just as they did in their last outing in the coastal city in October when they notched up their first league victory of the season against Golden Arrows in Chatsworth.
Chatsworth will be the venue once again when Chiefs face Amazulu on Wednesday night. Chiefs' last game in Durban was their recent SAA Supa 8 triumph over SuperSport United.
Although wary of slipping on the Banana peel that could be Amazulu ahead of Saturday’s big Soweto derby, Ernst Middendorp is aware that The Usuthu’s recent form has not been the best. Chiefs will be looking to take advantage of this fact and will be looking towards continuing their march up the PSL Standings.
Past results: Kaizer Chiefs Vs Amazulu/ Zulu Royals
1996 – 1997
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Khumalo)
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Williams) Amazulu 0
1997 – 1998
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Kungoane 41’, Biyela 76’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Muchichwa 63’, Masunda 65’) Amazulu 1
1998 – 1999
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Muchichwa 18’ pen, Lebese 28’, Nomvete 49’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Lebese 48’, Nomvete 79’) Amazulu 3
1999 – 2000
Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Pule 30’, Nomvete 47’, Mooki 58’, Makua 62’) Amazulu 1
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nomvete 9’, 14’)
2001-2002
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Permall 48’) Amazulu 1
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0
2003 – 2004
• Amazulu played as Zulu Royals
Zulu Royals 0 Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Mayo 28’, Nzama o.g. 42, Fredericks 62’, Dlamini 89’)
Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Moshoeu 4’, 41’, 85’, Nengomasha 87’) Zulu Royals 1
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Amazulu head to head since inception of the PSL in 1996 – 1997
P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | |
Kaizer Chiefs | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 10 | 15 |
Amazulu | 12 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 25 | -15 |