Coach Stuart Baxter has called on his charges to respond after a disappointing result at Ajax Cape Town last Tuesday in Cape Town. Baxter acknowledged that Chiefs’ performance on Tuesday was not one of their best performances.

“We have not won in Cape Town since 2005. Ajax played very tight at the back and it was difficult to break them down. They defended in numbers and broke out very quick on attack. If you play a team that defend very well it then looks like you are running out of ideas. If you look at all those things, it then explains the result to a degree but still that doesn’t make the result easy to tolerate.

We can’t do anything about the opponent but we can raise the quality of our play, improve our effort and become mentally strong going forward.”

Chiefs play Wits this weekend. Last season the Amakhosi took four points off the University-based side, winning 3-1 away and drawing 1-1 at home. Baxter looked ahead of the encounter;

“We have to demonstrate a solid response against Wits. That’s what coaches all over the world tell their players after disappointing results. Last year we still won the PSL after losing in Cape Town, so if you look at the bigger picture, as disappointing as it was losing to Ajax, it is not the end of the world.

This season is so disjointed, maybe until January it will be difficult to know who the genuine challengers are. We just have to make sure that while the league is taking shape, we must stay with the chasing pack. We will have our challenges in the process. Last season the respect for Chiefs had dissipated and everyone thought they could beat Chiefs. Now that we got the respect back, the opponents have become more tactically careful. To repeat success is difficult. It is natural to breath after a successful period. The players don’t consciously decide to take a day off.

I told the players after the defeat that we are not stretching ourselves and that’s what successful teams have to come to terms with. We have a good squad, and in fact one of the successful for Chiefs. The challenge now is the players must work hard to keep the standard they have set for themselves. Yes, in the process we will lose one game because there are no guarantees in football.”

On the ‘use’ of ‘5 defenders’ system, Baxter elaborated on the system as used globally in a variety of approaches;

“It couldn’t be further from the truth that we played five defenders. We played with three defenders and the two full backs were pushed forward to assist the attacking midfielder. Tsepo (Masilela) played more crosses, and Pa (Gaxa) made more forays in the opposition’s box than Shabba (Siphiwe Tshabalala) and George (Lebese), who had a license to be offensive on the day. We were more offensive than defensive. The same system that has worked before; we used the same system against Wits last season and succeeded.”

On Chiefs facing the Clever Boys who are placed second on the Absa Premiership log with 15 points from eight matches;

“It is going to be a tight game. Coach Gavin Hunt knows that as well. Gavin is in the process of stamping his authority to his team. They are always ready when we play them. It is going to be a difficult game but we have to respond and bounce back from the disappointment of Tuesday.”

The game against Wits will be 51st of Baxter in charge at Chiefs. Baxter had this to say after the 50th landmark;

“It’s been really challenging. We have done well operating with the underlying challenge to restructure the Club in the way we play football. We have been working hard on the academy and creating a learning environment. We are also looking at how the players approach their job. It is well and good that we have some trophies under our belt to show but we want to have a sustainable success. With success on all fronts, financially success, gain respect, grow own players and play enjoyable football. We want to strive for all those things. We don’t want to struggle to win 2-1 against Pirates and think we are successful.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Wits have met in 54 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have claimed 26 wins compared to 10 for the Clever Boys, while 18 matches have been drawn.