It took The Amakhosi almost 6 ½ hours to reach Kimberly on Saturday after departing from Johannesburg earlier in the day, the team bus had to take an alternative route to the diamond city this after the club were given information that there were major road works on the N12 high way.

Ernst Middendorp though will be looking for his team to take the quickest route to goal on Sunday against Ajax; he set about acclimatizing his players to the serene and quiet surroundings of the Northern Cape by leading them on a sunset stroll on Saturday.

After a lengthy bus journey the coach felt it was necessary for the team to flex their muscles as he lead the way in a walk that lasted roughly half an hour leisurely walk, commenting on taking his players for an early evening stroll he said. “I think that we needed to get out and breathe the fresh air of the country side, even though Kimberly is a major town you still get a real laid back feeling, after sitting six hours in a bus and it is good to get out and get a feel of the place”.

Kimberley is new territory for Chiefs as they have never played a PSL game in the town, although they have participated in friendly matches in the diamond city previously, Sunday’s outing will be their first official game in the Northern Cape.

Assistant Chiefs coach Frank Eulberg and goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker inspected the ABSA Stadium where Sunday’s game will take place, Eulberg said of the ABSA Stadium “the pitch is smaller than the ones we usually train on at the Chiefs village, it is not in a good condition although it is better than the one we played on against Benoni United in Germiston a week ago”. He continued on by saying “the ground is very compact as a result the supporters are close to the action, I am sure this will ensure that we have an electrifying atmosphere in the stadium”.

Chiefs will be hoping that with the large support they can expect in the Northern Cape’s largest town, it will provide them with the perfect launch pad to out shine the Urban Warriors, and put get the shine back into their Championship aspirations on Sunday.

An added impetus for Chiefs to want to ahead of Sunday’s game is the fact that, Ajax are coached by former Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral who was at the helm of Chiefs for 3 ½ seasons. Ertugral’s reign with Chiefs began in the 1999 – 2000 season and ended mid way through the 2002 – 2003 season.