New top signing Khama Billiat will, as expected, make his official debut for Kaizer Chiefs this afternoon against his former side Mamelodi Sundowns.

Siphelele Ntshangase will partner Willard Katsande in the central midfield role in the absence of George Maluleka, who is out with an ankle injury. Siphosake Ntiya-Ntiya will start at left-back.

Chiefs and Sundowns have faced each other 66 times since the establishment of the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1985. Amakhosi won 27 of those encounters, 19 ended in a draw and 20 resulted in a loss.

Amakhosi won last year’s away fixture at Loftus Versfeld, beating the Brazilians 2-1 thanks to goals from Siyabonga Ngezana and Bernard Parker.

Chiefs face Sundowns in the opening round of the 2018/2019 Absa Premiership season at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, 4 August 2018 (kick-off is at 15:00).

The referee is Victor Hlungwani.

Chiefs’ line up: Khune, captain (32); Mphahlele (2), Mathoho (3), Cardoso (4), Ntiya-Ntiya (36); Billiat (11), Ntshangase (10), Katsande (31), Tshabalala (14); Parker (25), Castro (8)
Subs: Vries (16), Moleko (18), Mahlasele (17), Meyiwa (38), Ekstein (27), Ngezana (30), Páez (9)
Head Coach: Giovanni Solinas

 

Sundowns’ line-up: Onyango (14); Ngcongca (16), Arendse (6), Nascimento (3), Lakay (23); Zwane (18), Manyisa (20), Kekana, captain (8), Sirino (26); Vilikazi (11), Brockie (22)

Subs: Mweene (1), Mabunda (13), Morena (27), Madisha (32), Meza (7), Maboe (33), Langerman (4)

Coach: Pitso Mosimane
Referee:                                    Victor Hlungwani
1st Assistant:                          Johannes Moshidi

2nd Assistant:                        Kamohelo Ramutsindela
4th Official:                            Cedric Muvhali
Match Commissioner:       Abdul Ebrahim