Posted in News on Apr 10, 2006.
As training got under way on Monday, Ernst Middendorp and company shifted their attention from league football to cup competition and now have the ABSA Cup on their radar. As they hone in on what could be Chiefs last opportunity for silverware in what has been a roller coaster ride in 2005-2006.
In previous years the ABSA Cup might have been the sacrificial lamb as Chiefs went in search of league glory, this time around there will be no let up from The Amakhosi and no such luck for Black Leopards. Although Black Leopards have been in the PSL since the 200-2002 season, Chiefs have only once before met Lidoda Duvha in a cup match, which was back in 2004. The game was a SAA Supa8 ¼ Final. On that occasion Chiefs ran out 2-1 winners, thanks to a Collins Mbesuma brace and were eventually beaten by SuperSport in the Final.
For Chiefs, victory in this game could set up a semi final with either title-chasers Mamelodi Sundowns who have a challenging game against Mvela League team Bloemfontein Young tigers or Orlando Pirates who tackle second division outfit Hanover Park. They have what seems to be an easy path into the next round. Ernst Middendorp though does not want to look beyond Leopards and believes in taking things one game at a time.
The ABSA Cup now proves to be the only realistic hope Chiefs have of taking home any silverware. They will enter Saturday’s game with the hope of skinning Leopards early on in the game and will be hoping to avoid a nerve wrecking finish like they did in the previous round against City Pillars.
Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has picked out Black Leopards striking duo of Rudzani Ramudzuli and Mulondo Sikhwivhilu as a possible trouble spot but is confident that Chiefs well disciplined defence will be able to deal effectively with whatever threat the may pose.
Previous Cup Results
2004/ 2005 SAA Supa8 ¼ Finals
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Mbesuma x2) Black Leopards 1 (Nhleko)
