The Amakhosi goalkeeping team usually made up of the club's goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker as well as the team’s first coach goalkeeper and back up net minder are the first point of contact for the Amakhosi faithful at any Chiefs game.

As the trio usually appear ahead of the rest of the Chiefs team for the pre-match warm up and are greeted with cheers and applause, according to Dinkelacker the fans play an important part in helping the players acclimatize to the conditions ahead of a big game.

“The fans play a vital role in any game especially for the keepers, our usual pattern when we come onto the field is to go to the center and greet them by waving to the crowd. This small ritual with the supporters helps the players settle, our fans are always warm and their cheers when we get onto the field means a lot” explained Dinkelacker.

The Amakhosi keeper coach speaking from a Johannesburg hotel where the team are in camp prior to Saturday’s MTN8 final further added, “equally important is the first touch the keeper has when he is out on the field, as a keeper you need to get a feel of the ball early. These might seem like small things but they make a big difference.”

So how ready are the Chiefs keepers for the final; “we had a final training session on Friday which went well. With Itumeleng Khune coming back from international duty this week it was important that he was in fine shape, thankfully he come back fit and he is feeling good and is in a good way for the final.

"When you go into any game especially a big one it is important that your back up keeper is also fit and ready, in modern football anything can happen and the reserve keeper needs to be prepared to stand in if necessary. We are in a fortunate position as all of our keepers are fit for the game.”

The night before a big game Dinkelacker gives the keeper’s ample time to relax and gather their thoughts for the Cup final, “it is important that once the final training session is over the guys get to relax. I usually let them rest and be at ease and this time before the game is about the team so they participate in the other team activities.

"After the general pre-match talk from the head coach a few hours before the game, I will sit with the keepers and we will go through some routines and drills.”