Posted in News on Oct 09, 2008.
Chiefs who have played Arrows twice before in this competition under its previous guise of the Coca Cola Cup have a 100% success rate against the Kwa Zulu Natal team, as they have won both those encounters. The Amakhosi in all have faced up to Arrows four times in Cup competitions and have won three of those matches losing just once two seasons ago in March 2007, via penalty kicks at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg in an ABSA Cup last 32 encounter. Over the course of the two COCA Cola Cup games in 2002 – 2003 and 2004 – 2005 Chiefs were hosted in Durban by Arrows and were victorious in both games winning 2-1 on each occasion.
Defending draw
Chiefs only defeat to Arrows in a cup match came in February 2007 which was the last meeting between the teams in a cup game, Chiefs were at that time the defending ABSA Cup Champions. Having being bundled out at the first stage back then the Amakhosi will have added motivation to go to Kwa – Zulu Natal and do the business as they aim to add another piece of silver ware to the MTN8 trophy they collected in September. The fact that the teams will be facing off in a cup game has kept up the statistic which from 2002 – 2003 has seen the teams square off in a cup game every alternate season, as they met in 2002 – 2003 again in 2004-2005 and twice in cup games during the2006 – 2007 campaign.
Arrows charm
While the pessimist will be concerned with that small matter of Chiefs losing their last cup encounter to Arrows in February 2007, it is worth noting that the Amakhosi have always enjoyed a good run against Arrows in cup competitions. Victory against Arrows in a cup match has always seen Chiefs at a minimum - proceed all the way to the final of that particular tournament, also Chiefs encountered Arrows twice before in this competition during its time as the Coca Cola Cup. On both of those occasions in 2002 – 2003 and 2004 – 2005 Chiefs ran out 2-1 victors, in 2002 – 2003 the Amakhosi went all the way to the final and narrowly lost to Jomo Cosmos by a single goal.
While two seasons later Chiefs went one better when they made it to their fourth consecutive Coca Cola Cup final after beating Arrows in the opening match of the competition as they did in 2002 – 2003, they went to the final where they defeated SuperSport United in a tight game played in Bloemfontein. It is also worth noting that The Amakhosi beat Arrows in the ¼ final of the 2006 - 2007 SAA Supa8 competition and again proceeded on to the final from there, where they again defeated SuperSport United.
The signs are there for Chiefs to stage a successful defence of their Telkom Knock Out Cup Crown, as they go in search of their fourth cup win over Arrows in what will be the fifth meeting between the teams when they come face to face later this month.
Chiefs Vs Arrows Cup Record
2002 – 2003
COCA Cola Cup Last 16
Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2
2004 – 2005
COCA Cola Cup Last 16
Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2
2006 - 2007
SAA Supa8 ¼ Finals
Kaizer Chiefs 2 Lamontville Golden Arrows 0
2006 – 2007
ABSA Cup Round of 32
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Lamontville Golden Arrows 0
Arrows win 5-4 on penalties