Chiefs on course to advance
Chiefs on course to advance

Posted in News on Feb 11, 2005.

Kaizer Chiefs should easily advance to the second round of the lucrative and prestigious African Champions League at the expense of AS Port Louis of Mauritius on Sunday.



The South African football giants left for Mauritius on Thursday morning.



"Everything is fine here in Mauritius and we are wrapping-up our preparations for the game," said Chiefs communications manager Putco Mafani on Friday.



"The support we are getting in Mauritius here has been awesome - there is no doubt Chiefs are one of the most popular African football clubs.



"We are not here on holiday, we came here to finish them off in their own backyard after beating them 2-0 during the first leg match in Rustenburg two weeks ago."



His sentiments were echoed by coach Ted Dumitru, who added: "I so wish Port Louis will open-up this time round after being too defensive during the first leg match.



"Their approach in the first leg frustrated our players, hence we could not score more goals despite dominating the match. It was clear they went to Rustenburg for a goalless draw.



"We want to score an early goal to unsettle them," added Dumitru, whose charges walloped Angolan giants Inter Club 3-0 at FNB Stadium on Tuesday in a practice match.



One of the best players during that match was veteran John Moshoeu who scored the opening goal but did not travel with the club to Mauritius.



Dumitru argued that they could not take Moshoeu along because he only started training with the club this week after a two week suspension.



Other prominent players who did not travel with the team to Mauritius are Zambian international striker Songwe Chalwe

(hamstring) and Thabo Mooki (flu).



Chiefs last featured in this competition in 1993. They are confident of emulating the success of Orlando Pirates by becoming the second South African club to win the tournament.



Pirates won it in 1995 but it did not offer prize money at that time. Chiefs won their first continental competition when they cliched the Mandela Cup in 2002.

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