Posted in News, Team News on Dec 31, 2018.
“We have won three games since Ernst Middendorp took over as the head coach,” Daniel Cardoso comments before looking forward to the league clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 5 January.
“Those wins have given our supporters confidence and a positive holiday season. I urge our supporters to be our 12th man against Sundowns. They are the ones that give us our drive.”
Just before the Christmas break, the Kaizer Chiefs squad flew to Madagascar to play the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup first round on 22 December, beating Elgeco Plus 3-0. The Glamour Boys had beaten the Malagasy side with the same score at home.
“It was a good trip,” reflects the defender. “It wasn’t as hot as usual when we played in Madagascar and we played on a normal field, even though it was very dry.” Hendrick Ekstein scored a brace and Ryan Moon also added a goal in the 3-0 win.
Chiefs played in a 3-5-2 formation in Madagascar with Cardoso positioned as one of the three centre-backs. The other two were Mario Booysen and Teenage Hadebe. Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya played on the right side of midfield, while Godfrey Walusimbi was on the left.
Ntiya-Ntiya had to cover on the right in the absence of the injured Ramahlwe Mphahlele, while Kgotso Moleko couldn’t play, as he hasn’t been registered for the CAF competition.
After the Christmas and New Year break, Sundowns await. “After the Soweto Derby, this match has become one of the biggest games of the season,” admits Cardoso. “It will be tough. We will both be coming back from a break, so it will be interesting to see who reacts best to that.”
The two sides played to a 1-all draw in the opening match of the Absa Premiership season at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld. Chiefs are slightly ahead when looking at the overall record since the establishment of the NSL in 1985. Of the 67 league matches played since, Amakhosi have won 27, while 20 ended in a draw and another 20 in a loss.
Chiefs have done fairly well at home, winning just over half of the games played (17 out of 33), while 11 were drawn and five were lost.
Amakhosi are presently in sixth position on the league table, one spot and one point (22 versus 21) behind Sundowns, although the Brazilians have three games in hand.
It promises to be an enthralling encounter between the two sides and it will be interesting to see if Chiefs will be able to extend their winning run under new coach Middendorp.
“Middendorp has brought in a lot of positive energy,” Cardoso points out. “He motivates us to give it our all. That’s also why we feel positive about the Sundowns match. We will be ready.”
The game between Amakhosi and the Brazilians will take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 5 January 2019. Kick-off is at 15:30.
Tickets are sold at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers at R50 (Level 1) and at R120 (Level 2).
“Those wins have given our supporters confidence and a positive holiday season. I urge our supporters to be our 12th man against Sundowns. They are the ones that give us our drive.”
Just before the Christmas break, the Kaizer Chiefs squad flew to Madagascar to play the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup first round on 22 December, beating Elgeco Plus 3-0. The Glamour Boys had beaten the Malagasy side with the same score at home.
“It was a good trip,” reflects the defender. “It wasn’t as hot as usual when we played in Madagascar and we played on a normal field, even though it was very dry.” Hendrick Ekstein scored a brace and Ryan Moon also added a goal in the 3-0 win.
Chiefs played in a 3-5-2 formation in Madagascar with Cardoso positioned as one of the three centre-backs. The other two were Mario Booysen and Teenage Hadebe. Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya played on the right side of midfield, while Godfrey Walusimbi was on the left.
Ntiya-Ntiya had to cover on the right in the absence of the injured Ramahlwe Mphahlele, while Kgotso Moleko couldn’t play, as he hasn’t been registered for the CAF competition.
After the Christmas and New Year break, Sundowns await. “After the Soweto Derby, this match has become one of the biggest games of the season,” admits Cardoso. “It will be tough. We will both be coming back from a break, so it will be interesting to see who reacts best to that.”
The two sides played to a 1-all draw in the opening match of the Absa Premiership season at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld. Chiefs are slightly ahead when looking at the overall record since the establishment of the NSL in 1985. Of the 67 league matches played since, Amakhosi have won 27, while 20 ended in a draw and another 20 in a loss.
Chiefs have done fairly well at home, winning just over half of the games played (17 out of 33), while 11 were drawn and five were lost.
Amakhosi are presently in sixth position on the league table, one spot and one point (22 versus 21) behind Sundowns, although the Brazilians have three games in hand.
It promises to be an enthralling encounter between the two sides and it will be interesting to see if Chiefs will be able to extend their winning run under new coach Middendorp.
“Middendorp has brought in a lot of positive energy,” Cardoso points out. “He motivates us to give it our all. That’s also why we feel positive about the Sundowns match. We will be ready.”
The game between Amakhosi and the Brazilians will take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 5 January 2019. Kick-off is at 15:30.
Tickets are sold at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers at R50 (Level 1) and at R120 (Level 2).
