Ditheko Mototo who started in place of Onismor Bhasera at left back during Chiefs recent 1-0 loss to Ajax Cape Town will face stiff competition from the Zimbabwean international, who will be looking at reclaiming his place in Muhsin Ertugral’s starting eleven for Saturday evening's Telkom Cup bout with Moroka Swallows.

Mototo who was sturdy at the back for The Amakhosi during the Ajax game looked comfortable in left back slot a position he has started in on three occasions this season for Chiefs. The man who scored Chiefs 500th PSL goal last season is looking to hold onto his place for Saturday’s clash with the Birds, but does believe that with competition as stiff as it is for places in the starting eleven it won’t be easy holding onto a place in the starting eleven.

Best team on the park

Mototo does believe that whichever eleven players start the game on Saturday they will be able to do the job for The Amakhosi, and get the result that would secure Chiefs passage to the ¼ Finals and maintain The Amakhosi’s dominance in cup games since 1996 over the Dube Birds.

Mototo said “in the squad at the moment we have many players who are on top of their game, who ever takes to the field will do a great job, even though Onismor and I are competing for the same place. There is this gamesmanship amongst the team where by we get behind each other, and the way he has played in the four league games that he has featured in I know that he will do a sterling job against Swallows at left back”.

Township rivalry

While Ditheko will only find out late on Saturday afternoon weather or not he makes the cut and starts on Saturday evening against Swallows, the no nonsense tough tackling defender believes that Swallows will try everything they can to throw Chiefs out of the Telkom Cup.

As Mototo explains The Amakhosi are ready to square up to their old foes “we know that Swallows will want to exact revenge against us for knocking them out of the 2006 SAA Supa 8 competition, so we will need to understand that they will not be coming to Tshwane to be rolled over. I expect them to bring their best game to Loftus and we are ready to face what ever they may have to throw at us. We have guys like Siphiwe Tshabalala, Onismor and Mandla Masango currently tearing up the pitch, Swallows will have a real tough time dealing with us”.

Push start

With both teams having had a far from ideal start to the season Chiefs are determined and eager to get things back on track with a win on Saturday.

Mototo spoke of what victory over Swallows would mean for Chiefs “playing a rival is never easy especially in a cup game, but coming out of this match against Swallows with a win will do a lot for the team.

“We then go into our next league game with a win under our belt and that will give us the a confidence boost ahead of our next league game, once you have over come the first hurdle in a cup tournament you really begin to believe that your team has what it takes to go all the way to the final and win it”.

A win against their old bitter rivals Moroka Swallows will according to Mototo spark a mini rival, and will add the necessary fuel to get Chiefs season in the fast lane once again.