Celtic showdown beckons for Chiefs
Celtic showdown beckons for Chiefs

Posted in News on Jan 26, 2011.

It’s another trip down the N1 Highway for The Amakhosi as they head back to Bloemfontein for the second time in three days to take on Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership fixture on Wednesday evening.

The teams were due to have squared off on Sunday afternoon, but the game was called off after match referee Jerome Damon ruled that the surface of the pitch would be hazardous for play.



With Chiefs inactive over the weekend, their Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates made the most of Mamelodi Sundowns slip-up against SuperSport United and victory over BIDVest Wits at the weekend saw Pirates assume the top spot in the land.



Chiefs are well aware that despite having to make the trek back to Bloemfontein, a win over Celtic will make the trip worthwhile as it will see them go above Pirates and into first place on the league standings.



Recent History



Chiefs failure to defeat Celtic last season in any of the two league games played between the teams was the first time in the PSL era that Chiefs had failed in any season to have registered at least one league win over Celtic.



The Amakhosi won the earlier duel between the sides this season, defeating Celtic in the Telkom Knockout Cup and the earlier league game 1-0. Both those games took place at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg.

Chiefs’ top scorer this season Knowledge Musona scored the lone goal for Chiefs in each of those games.



Form Book



While Chiefs will be aiming to return from Bloemfontein with all three points, they are aware it won’t be an easy task though as Celtic are unbeaten at home this season.

Breaking Celtic’s strong home record will be an added incentive for the Amakhosi to want to pick up three points.

Chiefs themselves have been on a good run of late and have lost just one of their last league outings. Both teams have in superb form coming into the game which will add spice to what is a traditionally fierce battle.



Missing Out



Amakhosi midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane and striker Sthembiso Ngcobo remain out of the game through suspension, and with Kaizer Motaung JR still out injured. It means that Chiefs will pretty much stick with the personnel that they had intended to deploy during Sunday’s cancelled game.



Trivially Speaking



Amakhosi hit man Musona has the opportunity of completing a unique hat trick should he find the target against Celtic this evening, as it means he would have scored in three matches in all competitions against the Free State side.

Share this article: