Posted in News, Team News on Nov 24, 2018.
“Our preparations went according to plan,” says Giovanni Solinas. “The players have been responding well to training and I’m confident we will do well today. It is not going to be easy against an Orlando Pirates team, though, that has been doing so well in their games this season.”
Kaizer Chiefs host their arch rivals Orlando Pirates in a much-anticipated Telkom Knockout semi-final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kick-off is 15:00.
“We have Joseph Molangoane and Wiseman Meyiwa ruled out of selection with an assortment of long-term injuries,” comments the Chiefs coach. “Lebogang Manyama is back in the squad and is available for selection.
“The players that represented their respective national teams have returned and are looking sharp. Naturally, they returned with a bit of fatigue. We have worked with them tactically to get them back in the club mode. We will definitely field a strong team against Pirates.”
The Italian coach took his charges through a pre-match training session at Chiefs Village on Friday before travelling to Durban. “We have covered all the necessary elements to win the match,” Solinas concludes.
“At the end of the day, we want to win this match and advance to the final. After all, in a Soweto Derby you need to apply your physical prowess and have your mind in a good space to win the match. We have prepared the team well.
“This is not just a game, it’s the Game with a capital ‘G’. This is a cup match and it can go to extra time and even penalties. It’s a very important fixture. However, we arrive into this encounter much better than last time, when we lost.
“That’s when Manyama was not available for selection and Khama Billiat did not properly train for six days before the Soweto Derby. Now, all players are available and that bodes well for a positive result.”
The stage is set for the mother of all shows. At stake is the ticket to the Telkom Knockout final, which will take place at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on 8 December 2018.
Kaizer Chiefs host their arch rivals Orlando Pirates in a much-anticipated Telkom Knockout semi-final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kick-off is 15:00.
“We have Joseph Molangoane and Wiseman Meyiwa ruled out of selection with an assortment of long-term injuries,” comments the Chiefs coach. “Lebogang Manyama is back in the squad and is available for selection.
“The players that represented their respective national teams have returned and are looking sharp. Naturally, they returned with a bit of fatigue. We have worked with them tactically to get them back in the club mode. We will definitely field a strong team against Pirates.”
The Italian coach took his charges through a pre-match training session at Chiefs Village on Friday before travelling to Durban. “We have covered all the necessary elements to win the match,” Solinas concludes.
“At the end of the day, we want to win this match and advance to the final. After all, in a Soweto Derby you need to apply your physical prowess and have your mind in a good space to win the match. We have prepared the team well.
“This is not just a game, it’s the Game with a capital ‘G’. This is a cup match and it can go to extra time and even penalties. It’s a very important fixture. However, we arrive into this encounter much better than last time, when we lost.
“That’s when Manyama was not available for selection and Khama Billiat did not properly train for six days before the Soweto Derby. Now, all players are available and that bodes well for a positive result.”
The stage is set for the mother of all shows. At stake is the ticket to the Telkom Knockout final, which will take place at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on 8 December 2018.
