Posted in News, Team News on Oct 31, 2020.
“It is the Soweto Derby minus the usual full house of spectators,” says Gavin Hunt, “strange, isn’t?” I have not observed any change in attitude from the players since we started the season. We are going on with the preparations for the match. This is our third game in a week, so the preparation is rest and pre-match workout. The training is low key, checking who is in, who is out, that is pretty much the basis of our sessions. We are going through the finer details here and there and getting the players to get going again.”
Kaizer Chiefs face their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in a mouthwatering MTN8 Cup’s first semifinal this afternoon at 15:00.
“We are playing our long-standing rivals and we need to be ready for a battle. We won the game on Tuesday and that is history. I maintain Pirates made good signings,” says Hunt. “I do not read much on the intelligence of the opposition. They have quality and a bit of continuity. They have signed several players that I worked with at Wits and they also have a good goalkeeper, Ofori. We will face a difficult side, but we are ready to do the job. It is a game of four halves, and we must make sure we do well in each half. We don’t go defensively but just like I always say in Champions League, the away goal is important.”
Hunt described the state of his team as follows: “Samir Nurkovic remains sidelined recovering from a surgery. Kgotso Moleko is ruled out with a hip injury. Dumsani Zuma is training well so far and with these back to back matches, he shows signs of getting ready to make the match day squad. He is not available for selection, but I spoke to him and told him to get ready. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as Mulomowandau Mathoho is available for selection after having sat out the opening fixtures due to a groin injury.”
Kick-off is at 15:00 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The game will be live on SuperSport channel 202 and SABC 1, with live commentary on the club’s official twitter handle @kaizerchiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs face their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in a mouthwatering MTN8 Cup’s first semifinal this afternoon at 15:00.
“We are playing our long-standing rivals and we need to be ready for a battle. We won the game on Tuesday and that is history. I maintain Pirates made good signings,” says Hunt. “I do not read much on the intelligence of the opposition. They have quality and a bit of continuity. They have signed several players that I worked with at Wits and they also have a good goalkeeper, Ofori. We will face a difficult side, but we are ready to do the job. It is a game of four halves, and we must make sure we do well in each half. We don’t go defensively but just like I always say in Champions League, the away goal is important.”
Hunt described the state of his team as follows: “Samir Nurkovic remains sidelined recovering from a surgery. Kgotso Moleko is ruled out with a hip injury. Dumsani Zuma is training well so far and with these back to back matches, he shows signs of getting ready to make the match day squad. He is not available for selection, but I spoke to him and told him to get ready. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as Mulomowandau Mathoho is available for selection after having sat out the opening fixtures due to a groin injury.”
Kick-off is at 15:00 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The game will be live on SuperSport channel 202 and SABC 1, with live commentary on the club’s official twitter handle @kaizerchiefs.
