Nedbank Cup Semifinal


Bidvest Wits v Kaizer Chiefs


Saturday, 3 May 2014


Bidvest Stadium

The statistics will count for nothing when Chiefs visit Wits in the Nedbank Cup semifinal on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday a lot more than a passage to the final will be at stake, as both Chiefs and Wits have seen their hopes of clinching the league tittle fading away in recent times.

The Amakhosi will go in to the clash with the most wins in this competition and last season Chiefs defeated the University-based club 3-0 in the first round en-route to winning the competition, while in 2011 Chiefs crushed the Clever Boys 4-0 in the last 16.

Coach Baxter has expressed a surprise to see his charges upbeat after a disappointing week in the league race. Baxter was speaking to the media during the Media Open Day at The Kaizer Chiefs Village on Friday afternoon.

kaizerchiefs.com caught up with Baxter and the Chiefs' Mentor had the following to say ahead of the Saturday humdinger.

How important is the match on Saturday?

"A semifinal match is more tricky than the final itself because when you lose it, it becomes a matter of so close yet so far. In a Cup game there's no draw and there's is no point in playing a defensive pattern, so it is another important match. said Baxter.

You played against Wits last week in the league and here we go again?

"This is a Cup game and not a league game and that's the difference from the game we played last week. There is no allowance of a draw or a second chance, we have to win or else we are out of the competition," commented Baxter.

Wits as opponents?

"We always have tough games against Gavin Hunt's teams, and this time won't be any different. Both teams are searching for a silverware and more especially that a chance of a league title is now hanging in the balance for us," commented Baxter.

Baxter confirmed that Siyabonga Nkosi has not recovered from an ankle injury he sustained in the Ivory Coast last weekend. Knowledge Musona is out for the rest of the season. Baxter hinted at a change of approach, "We will approach it differently from the last time and I'm sure Gavin (Hunt) will also come up with a few changes," said Baxter.

Wits’ last cup victory over Chiefs arrived early last season when they claimed a 3-2 win in the first round of the Telkom Knockout.

Wits hold home advantage for this semifinal, but in fact they have won just five of the 38 matches in which they have hosted Chiefs, suffering 22 defeats in the process.

Tomorrow afternoon’s Nedbank Cup semifinal clash between Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs is sold out.