Posted in News, Team News on Jan 29, 2023.
Kaizer Chiefs are ready for action this evening as they kick off their first of three home games that will be staged in Polokwane this season.
Amakhosi play hosts to Royal AM in Limpopo’s capital for their second league meeting of the current campaign. The two teams kicked off the season in August with a game hosted at Chatworth Stadium in Durban.
It’s all to play for in the second round as Chiefs desperately need all the three points from this game after a rather poor run of form in recent matches. The visitors will also try and win so they can get into the top eight bracket and move away from the danger zone.
Chiefs are in 6th on the log with 24 points after 17 matches. The visiting team is in 11th position on the standing with 21 points in 17 encounters.
Amakhosi, who are still without Khama Billiat, Cole Alexander and Mulomowandau Mathoho due to injury will be unhappy that midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has now been added to the list of injured players after getting hurt at training ahead of this game. However, the team will be happy to welcome midfielder Phathutshedzo Nange back after missing a number of games through injury.
Some more good news came in with the newly signed striker Christian Saile Basomboli being granted his work permit, making it possible for him to play for the team.
With Ngcobo out, coach Arthur Zwane was forced to make a change to his midfield. Additionally, there are four tactical changes in the starting line-up.
The first tactical change in the goalkeeping department sees Itumeleng Khune being replaced by Brandon Petersen. In defence Siyabonga Ngezana will come in for Zitha Kwinika. in the midfield Samkelo Zwane’s place will be taken by Siyethemba Sithebe and Ngcobo is replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala.
The team will keep their 4-5-1 formation this evening.
The goalkeeper is Petersen.
At the back Chiefs will have Sfiso Hlanti at left-back. Edmilson Dove will be joined by Ngezana at centre-back, while Reeve Frosler retains his position on the right of Chiefs’ defence.
Following his performance after coming on in the second of last weekend’s game game against Mamelodi Sundowns, Siyethemba Sithebe gets the nod as he will work the midfield with Yusuf Maart.
Teenage sensation Shabalala is in front of the two holding midfielders. On the left will be Ashley Du Preez and Keagan Dolly doing on the right of Amakhosi’s attack.
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana is the target man.
Dolly will wear the the captain’s armband
Match officials are referee Cedric Muvhali. His assists referees are Kenny Mamegwa and Xolani Boneni. The fourth official is Buhle Jobela.
Glamour Boys and Royal AM’s clash will commence 17:30 at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The match will be live on SuperSport’s PSL Channel 202 on DStv, and various SABC radio stations - with regular updates of the match on Twitter @KaizerChiefs.
Line-ups:
Chiefs XI: Petersen (1); Hlanti (23), Dove (2), Ngezana (30), Frosler (39), Maart (8), Sithebe (6), Shabalala (42), Dolly (10), Du Preez (9), Bimenyimana (28)
Subs: Khune © (32); Solomons (18), Kwinika (4), Nange (24), Zwane (37), Radebe (33), Sekgota (14), Saile Basomboli (21), Duba (36)
Coach: Arthur Zwane
RAM: Nyame (16); Dube (44), Nascimento (3), Sikakane (29), Matlaba (14), Dlamini (5), Magaqa (26), Mahlasela (12), Mashiane (38), Thikazi (34), Macuphu (9)
Subs: Ngcobo (32), Sera (33), Masuku (50), Mogaila (17), Lingwati (24), Potsane (11), Pelembe (7), Msomi (2), Gamildien (30)
Co-Coaches: Abram Nteo
