Posted in News on Sep 16, 2007.
Premier Soccer League
Vodacom Loftus Stadium
Tshwane
Sunday 16th September 2007
15h00
Playing Conditions: light south westerly wind, temperature at kick off 28 °C
Muhsin Ertugral looked a happy and confident man as he climbed off the Chiefs team bus as he and his team dis- embarked at the Vodacom Loftus Stadium in Tshwane just past lunch time on Sunday for a crunch PSL clash against SuperSport United in the capital city. The Amakhosi who were last in action seventeen days ago when they were narrowly beaten by BidVest Wits in Rustenburg on the 31st August, will be aiming to rack up their first league victory over SuperSport since May 2005. There will be a number of changes to the Chiefs line up for Sunday’s game, in total there are three alterations to the starting eleven while there will be a further change on the bench for Chiefs.
The Changes
Itumeleng Khune has for the third game in succession kept his place between the sticks for Chiefs; the national u-23 goalkeeper has been impressive in goal since making his debut on the 25th August against Jomo Cosmos in Durban. He is as yet to beaten in open play as he has only beaten from the penalty spot, Jimmy Tau comes in at right back as he starts only his second game of the campaign. Tau who played on the opening night of the 2007 – 2008 season on the 15th August during Chiefs 2-0 win over Benoni Premier United, takes the place of Cyril Nzama. Onismor Bhasera comes back in at left back for Ditheko Mototo as the role played by Bhasera in the previous game against Wits, on the left side of midfield will be filled by a fit and raring Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Ertugral’s third change to his starting eleven sees Kaizer Motaung Junior start a game for The Amakhosi for the first time since the 1st April, when he injured himself in a game against Moroka Swallows. Motaung will partner Shaun Bartlett up front while Mabhudi Khenyeza will take Motaung’s place on the substitute’s bench for the game. David Obua fresh from scoring a hat trick against Niger for the Uganda national team, makes his first appearance for Chiefs this season as he takes the place of the injured Gerald Sibeko.
Bartlett to lead
Amongst Ertugral’s changes for Sunday’s game he has appointed a new captain in the form of striker Shaun Bartlett, who will wear the captains arm band for the first time against SuperSport. Bartlett is looking forward to full filling his role as Chiefs captain with honour as he said, “this is a real honour for me to be chosen as the skipper by the coach, hopefully this will be the motivation for me to lead from the front and inspire the team on to victory. I will wear this armband with the pride that it deserves and hopefully be able to be a competent leader just as the many great captains that this team has had in the past”. When asked about the fact that coach has faith in his abilities as a leader and has thus charged him with the responsibility of captaining the team Bartlett added, “it means a lot to me that a coach of Muhsin’s calibre can opt to use me as the player he feels can lead the team to glory, it is up to me to know repay the favour and help the team win against SuperSport”.
Line Up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Itumeleng Khune, 3. Onismor Bhasera, 2. Jimmy Tau, 29. Moketi Tsotetsi, 35. Jonathan Quartey, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 12. Thabo Mooki, 24. David Mathebula, 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala, 17. Shaun Bartlett, 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior.
Substitutes: 1. Markus Bocsker, 26. Thuso Phala, 5. Mabhudi Khenyeza, 4. Cyril Nzama, 18. Arthur Zwane, 33. Ditheko Mototo, 13. David Obua.
Coach: Muhsin Ertugral
Assistant Coach: Fani Madida
Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker
