Word around football circles is that there is no rivalry as fierce and intense as the one between Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town and this Saturday’s Absa Cup Last 16 clash could further lend credence to that perception.

Already Chiefs and Ajax have been singled out as the main contenders for the league championship and coaches of the two clubs Ted Dumitru and Gordon Igesund have not been too complimentary about each other.

Dumitru fired the first bullet earlier in the week when he described the Saturday duel as “just another game”.

“We will be ready for the challenge and aiming to prove once again that KC is indeed the superior team which through performance consistency, exciting style, ‘world class’ defence capability and cup winning results, deserves to be respected and appreciated,” he said.

Indeed Chiefs do have the best defensive record, after conceding only four goals in 21 league matches.

Igesund was however not too pleased about Dumitru’s utterances. "I have nothing personal against Mr. Dumitru and I don't think it is a bad thing for coach's to play mind games amongst each other through the media," Igesund told his club’s website.

"However, I feel it is wrong when a coach makes a personal attack on another coach - this is unprofessional and un-ethical behaviour. I feel that he has no right to slam me or my tactics the way he did. We at Ajax show respect to all our opponents, unlike Chiefs."

Such rivalry will intensify in the heat of Mmabatho on Saturday as the two battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the Absa Cup knock-out competition. So far this season Amakhosi have had the upper hand against the Urban Warriors winning two of the three encounters. The other result, the most recent being a 0-0 draw in Cape Town on March 17.

However, Igesund will lead his charges to Mmabatho Stadium knowing that they were responsible for throwing the spanner in Amakhosi’s works when they bundled the Naturena side out of the same competition with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win in the Last 16.

It was a personal triumph for Igesund who had struggled over the years to register victory against Chiefs from his days at Manning Rangers until he moved to Cape Town.

Ajax will look to DR Congo international Mulekelayi Kanku to deliver the goods. The hard-working midfielder has been a revelation since joining the coastal side. It was his 81st minute goal that handed Ajax an important 1-0 win against neighbours Santos on Sunday to keep pressure on Chiefs in the league race.

Goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has been an inspiration in the Ajax goals and the Chiefs strikers better be at their best if they are to see their side past the Cape club. Such has been Josephs’ consistency in goal that he will be the first player penciled down when Igesund draws his line-up.

That will not be the case, however, for Chiefs. Dumitru has been so spoilt for choice in the goalkeeping department that it will be futile to even attempt to predict who will be in goals. Rowen Fernandez was back in contention when Chiefs beat Rangers 2-0 at the weekend after missing four games.

Former Bafana Bafana keeper Brian Baloyi conceded only one goal (in the 3-1 win against Leopards) and had a relatively impressive run.

However, Dumitru expressed annoyance at his strikers, particularly Swazi international Sbusiso Dlamini for his wastefulness against Rangers. David Radebe was equally, if not more, wasteful with his rushed efforts.

“Particularly upsetting was Sibusiso Dlamini’s blunders in controlling, possessing and finishing in several opportunities as he incredibly wasted excellent goal scoring opportunities,” said Dumitru.

This could mean a change in the striking department with Patrick Mayo, who came on as a second half substitution against Rangers, on the starting line-up.

Results this season


March 17: 0-0 (league)


November 1: Chiefs 3-2 Ajax (Coke Cup QF)


September 21: Chiefs 1-0 Ajax (league)