Ernst Middendorp has stuck to his same starting eleven from Chiefs six one demolition on Sunday, as he opted not to make any changes to his team for Wednesday evenings encounter against Santos in Tshwane. The Chiefs coach has been in the fortunate position of not having any major injuries or suspensions to contend with, and has had a full compliment of players to select from.

The Amakhosi will also be looking to even matters between teams from Gauteng and the Western Cape, after Chiefs Soweto neighbours Orlando Pirates came unstuck against Santos Cape Town rivals Ajax earlier on Wednesday. Pirates were defeated by Ajax in Kimberley on Wednesday afternoon and the Chiefs coach is looking for his team to avoid defeat at all costs.

“The game against Santos is our last of 2006 and we do not want to end the year on a low note, instead we would like to finish with a flourish and end as high up the table as possible, it is important four us to remain focus and put Sunday’s win behind us” said the Chiefs coach.

With most South African’s leaving the inland towns for the coast as they begin their summer holidays Chiefs will be looking to give them the perfect send off, with another win at their new temporary home in the capital. A lot will once again rest on the shoulders of Chiefs striking partner ship of Shaun Bartlett and Kaizer Motaung Junior, who have found crucial goals for Chiefs in recent games.

Kaizer Junior who netted a hat trick during Sunday’s victory over Maritzburg United will be looking towards adding to the six goals he has scored so far this season, he will again be looking towards the Chiefs midfield to lay on the same kind of quality crosses they did on Sunday. It was the hard work done by the likes of Siyabonga Nkosi and the no nonsense Tinashe Nengomasha; the dynamic midfield duo dealt a big hand in Chiefs massive win on Sunday.

It is not just Ernst Middendorp’s starting eleven that has remained unchanged, the German coach has opted for the same eighteen man squad, which did duty against Maritzburg United. Two goal scorers from Sunday’s game Serge Djiehoua and Gert Schalkwyk will again start from the bench as they did against Maritzburg United, joining them on the substitutes bench against Santos is midfielder Thabo Mooki. Mooki will expect to see some action on Wednesday evening, in so doing he will overtake Neil Tovey with 365 appearances for Chiefs which will make him the second most capped Chiefs player behind Doctor Khumalo.

Perhaps the only change The Amakhosi have had to make ahead of Wednesday’s game see assistant Coach Frank Eulberg swop places with coach Ernst Middendorp, as he has had to stay home due to illness. The Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp was suffering from a cold during Chiefs victory over Maritzburg United, and was not his usual active self as he remained glued to his seat throughout the game.

Starting Line Up:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 2. J. Tau, 6. F. McCarthy, 44. S. Mkhonza,

33. D. Mototo, 10. S. Nkosi, 13. D. Obua, 27. G. Sibeko, 8. T. Nengomasha,

7. K. Motaung Jnr, 17. S. Bartlett

Substitutes: 16. E. Baron, 21. P. Mayo, 4. C. Nzama, 12. T. Mooki, 25. G. Schalkwyk,

9. S. Djiehoua, 31. D. Radebe

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Santos: 1. W. Roberts, 2. M. Otieno Ongao, 22. Z. Makonese, 19. O. Hendricks,

16. W. Arendse, 12. R. Nauseb, 7. M. Bantam, 25. D. Selolwane, 11. R. Scott,

15. E. Isaacs

Substitutes: 29. B. Wardle, 23. E. Burton, 20. C. Bianchi, 13. B. Hendricks,

4. M. Gabonamong, 10. T. Kanono, 17. R. Cloete

Coach: Roger Da Sa

Match Officials:


Referee: Daniel Bennett


Assistant 1: Johannes Moshidi


Assistant 2: Colin Netsholongwe


4th Official: Matthew Dyer


Match Commissioner: Phillip Masemola