Keegan Ritchie made a name for himself at Moroka Swallows prior to joining the Amakhosi in June, the 21 year old left back will see his young career go full circle on Wednesday evening when Chiefs face his former team in an Absa Premiership clash at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.

Putting aside the emotion of the occasion aside Ritchie is relishing the challenge of facing his former employer’s, “Swallows are my old team, I am not really nervous about playing against them, I would say more excited.

It is a nice thing that we meeting them so early in the season, this is the game I was looking forward to on a personal level since I joined Chiefs. Given my history with Swallows this is the biggest game for me thus far in the season. ”

Having featured in this derby game as a Swallows player he is now looking forward to getting his opportunity to becoming part of a special group of players to have played in this game for both the two historical rivals.

“It will be somewhat of an emotional return for me to the Dobsonville Stadium, I have made a move in my career to Chiefs and I am really excited as I said about walking out in Gold and Black against Swallows. Hopefully I get the chance to play on Wednesday.”

Both Chiefs and Swallows made winning starts to the season, Ritchie has also been keeping an eye on the progress of the Birds who are a vastly improved side after their brush with relegation last season.

“I did manage to see highlights of their opening match, I was really impressed by them they went a goal down against Santos and came back to win 3-1. Swallows have strengthened their squad in the off season and I do believe that they will have a better season than they had last campaign.”

Of what to expect from Swallows Ritchie added, “I expect them to try and put us under pressure early on and it will be just as strenuous an encounter physically like our game against Cosmos was.”

Ritchie has been the favoured left back for the Amakhosi this season having started both of their games in the MTN8 and Absa Premiership in that role, he is looking to build on those early season appearances.

“In the first game against Wits in the MTN8 I was still finding my feet and perhaps my performance was not what I would have liked it to be, I do feel that I had a better time against Cosmos and hopefully from here everything goes well.”