Posted in News on Dec 21, 2007.
The Chiefs coach would not be too unhappy with his first seven months in his second spell as Chiefs coach as it has already yielded success for him, as The Amakhosi recently lifted the Telkom Knock Out Cup.
Tasting cup success is not new to Ertugral who in his previous tenure as Chiefs coach also managed to bring home the silverware, now in his third long spell as a coach in the PSL his mind will be focused on going for the one prize that has eluded him, namely the league title. With one more game left for the year, the 48-year-old coach will be thinking of ending 2007 on a high note and then plan to put his team in the battle for the title in the second half of the season.
With a draw in their last match against Bloemfontein Celtic The Amakhosi will want to pick up the pieces and score a comfortable victory over a Black Leopards team, languishing dangerously close to the bottom of the league standings. Leopards are in essence in the 13th place but only managed to stay above the two teams below them Platinum Stars and Thanda Royal Zulu as they have a superior goal difference. A win for Chiefs could see them jump up two places in the standings which will see them finish the year inside the top eight places on the log, which is exactly as Ertugral would have planned to be at the start of the week.
The History
Leopards were a big hit during their first season in the PSL almost six seasons ago during the 2001 – 2002 campaign, the first game between the teams in September 2001 ended in a 2-2 draw. Both Chiefs goals came courtesy of own goals from Leopards players.
The first Chiefs player to score a goal against Lidoda Duvha was David Radebe as he find the back of the net twice during Chiefs first victory over Leopards in November 2002. Later that season (2002 – 2003) and facing relegation Leopards needed to come up with a win when they faced Chiefs at the Ellis Park Stadium, on a Saturday evening in April 2003. Leopards 3-0 win over Chiefs ensured that they would remain in the PSL, the following season though when Lidoda Duvha returned to Johannesburg it was not such a happy ending, as John Shoes Moshoeu ate away at Leopards. The veteran strike scored a hat trick in a 5-0 thumping of Leopards, later the same season in 2003 – 2004 Chiefs won the return game 3-1 with one Collins Mbesuma scoring a goal on debut.
The 2003 – 2004 season also represented the first occasion when either Chiefs or Leopards had won the home and away legs of league matches in a single season, it was a feat repeated by The Amakhosi in 2004 – 2005 when they again defeated Leopards both at home and away. In some what of a bizarre coincidence Chiefs won both games by the same 3-0 score line, with Collins Mbesuma scoring a brace in the first match in Thoyandou followed by one more goal when the teams clashed in February 2005. It meant that through the 18 months that he was at Chiefs Collins Mbesuma in three league and one cup match against Leopards managed to find the back of the net six times against them.
Last season The Amakhosi managed to keep up their winning ways against Leopards winning the away game 3-1, Leopards though were able to exact revenge against Chiefs in the return match in April at Loftus winning the game 2-0. It was one of only three games won by Leopards during the 12 league meetings between the teams; it was also Leopards first victory over Chiefs since April 2003.
Look out for
Kaizer Motaung Junior was on the score board for Chiefs during their recent 1-1 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic, finishing off a Thuso Phala cross in real poachers fashion knocking the ball home from close range. It would have given him a real boost of confidence as he found his second league goal and third goal in all competition this season.
His coach will be looking for him to continue on and get his name onto to the score sheet more regularly, he looked sharp during the Celtic game and will fancy himself against what has been a leaky Leopards defense this season so far.
In goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune it has been said that Chiefs have the find of the season he proved his worth again on Sunday, he showed that competing with various junior national teams around the African continent has given him the experience cope with playing under tense situations. He managed to keep his nerve during the Celtic game with a partisan and vociferous backing for the home team Khune came up trumps with some big saves, Celtic only managed to beat him when on the stroke of half time they were awarded a contentious penalty.
A potential threat from Leopards could come in the form of striker Myron Shongwe who has scored four goals this season, the 21 year old Johannesburg born striker has carried the weight for Leopards up front. Joint as top scorer for Leopards with Shongwe on four goals is Malawian international midfielder Fisher Kondwe, although Leopards away for him has been poor this season. Kondwe managed to find a brace during their only victory on the road so far this season, that was when Leopards managed to upset the form book and defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on the 5th December.
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Black Leopards results since 2001
2001 – 2002
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Mnguni o.g., Seneo o.g.) Black Leopards 2 (Mabosha, Sikhiwivhilu)
Black Leopards 2 (Mnguni, Kubeka o.g.) Kaizer Chiefs 0
2002 – 2003
Black Leopards 1 (Netshidzivhe) Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Radebe x2)
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Black Leopards 3 (Netshidzivhe, Masanabo x2)
2003 – 2004
Kaizer Chiefs 5 (Moshoeu x3, Dlamini, Zwane) Black Leopards 0
Black Leopards 1 (Mushangazikhe) Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Mbesuma, Khanye, Dlamini)
2004 – 2005
Black Leopards 0 Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Mbesuma x 2, Mathebula)
Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Mbesuma x2, Sibeko) Black Leopards 0
2005 – 2006
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Black Leopards 0
Black Leopards 2 (Ramudzuli, Ngambi) Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Mathebula, Radebe)
2006 – 2007
Black Leopards 1 (Ngambi) Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Bartlett, Mayo, Radebe)
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Black Leopards 2 (Kondwe22, Masongo 74)
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Black Leopards Head to Head since 2001 PSL Only
P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | |
Kaizer Chiefs | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 9 |
Black Leopards | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 23 | -9 |
