Gerald Sibeko completed his recovery from an ankle injury on Thursday, which forced him to be substituted at half time during the recent, thrilling one all draw with arch rivals Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby.

As he finished a grueling training session after joining the rest of the team for the first time this week, Sibeko has, in the recent past, had a rejuvenation in form and his upturn in fortune recently saw him win the man of the match accolade when Chiefs defeated Amazulu in Durban on the 6th December.

It was a game which marked a turning point for Sibeko as he contributed with a number of telling crosses into the opposition penalty area. He was also unfortunate not have scored his first goal of the season against The Usuthu, as he had two well-taken attempts at goal superbly kept out by the Amazulu goalkeeper.

As Chiefs prepare for their penultimate game of the year against Maritzburg United this weekend, Sibeko gets ready to stamp his place in the Chiefs starting eleven. Kaizerchiefs.com caught up with him on Thursday morning to chat around the impending visit of Maritzburg United, as well as his current rise in form.

KC.COM: Gerald how did you react to the news at half time in the game against Pirates when you learnt that you would be unable to continue on in the game, because of an ankle injury you picked up in the first half?


Gerald Sibeko: I was really disappointed and it was a big blow to me as I was improving through out that game. Towards the end of the first half I felt I was getting more into the game. As a team we were growing in confidence as Pirates were more dominant in the early part of the half and personally I did have it in the back of my mind that I could do more in the second half of the game.

Unfortunately the game of soccer is like that and things like that happen; things that are out of our control and we need to live with them and also work around these setbacks.

KC.COM: While you were unable to complete ninety minutes against Pirates, you were in scintillating form against Amazulu, where you really took control of the midfield for Chiefs. You also managed to send in a number of good crosses into the opposition penalty area.


GS: All of that comes down to good team work and a lot of practice. The thing is that I have been working really hard in terms of trying to get a break and get into the starting eleven, every opportunity that comes my way I need to make the most of it. Against Amazulu the coach gave me specific instructions and all I did was carrying out the duties entrusted to me. I must say that I enjoyed playing in a central position but somewhat wide midfield role against Amazulu, it suited my game and I was able to get into attacking positions as well as set up attacks.

KC.COM: You were unlucky not to have got amongst the goals against Amazulu, as you made the Amazulu goalkeeper earn his keep with two great efforts, talk us through them?




GS: The first was a diving header in the first half where the cross came in from the right and I saw the ball first time and I knew I would only reach it if I lunged at the ball, so I threw myself at the ball and was really shocked to see that the goalkeeper had dived to this left and with one hand was able to keep the ball out.

The other came in the second half when David Obua sent a ball into the 18 yard area which was not dealt with by the Usuthu defense. The ball eventually fell to me and my first-time shot was again saved by Camara, the Amazulu keeper, who came to the fore with an outstanding stop.

KC.COM: This weekend you come up against Maritzburg United, and it must be said that they do not look like much trouble as they have lost four games in a row recently.




GS: I am aware that they have hit a poor patch but that can have both its advantages and disadvantages, they will on the one hand be looking to turn their fortunes around and what better way for them to do so then with a win against Chiefs. On the flip side what we can do is put pressure on them like we did against Amazulu and score as early as possible, the onus is on us to put the pressure on the opposition all the time.

KC.COM: To end off Gerald, are you confident of finishing off the year with wins in your next two games?




GS: I do not see any reason why we cannot end the year with victories over both Maritzburg and Santos. We have been on a roll and with the spirit and the good vibe in the team. I do feel that we can continue playing like we have in the past couple of games, and obviously get the same kind of results that we achieved against Leopards, Swallows and Amazulu and display the same kind of resolve we did against Pirates.