Absa Premiership

Kaizer Chiefs 4 – 1 Polokwane City

27 November 2013

Kaizer Chiefs got back to winning ways after a disappointing semifinal exit in the TKO last Saturday, 23rd November 2013. The most successful Club in the TKO were bundled out of the Cup, much to the disappointment of their faithful supporters. Going in the clash against the confident and resurgent Polokwane City was a matter of bouncing back for the Glamour Boys.

Coach Baxter had vowed before the game that they had no choice but to bounce back at the expense of the Team from the Northern part of South Africa;

“We played well on the night. The guys knew very well that we had to respond from a disappointing exit from the TKO. I think we got back to a flowing and attacking flair. Should we have been more clinical in front of goals, the score could have emulated a Tennis match score. That is a work in progress, we will get it right;” said the England born Chiefs Coach.

“We said it before, and we discussed with the players before the game that we needed to get back to basics. It is a matter of fact that between this season and last season, there is not much change in what we are doing. We are faced with the challenge that is faced by most successful Teams in the world. David Moyes at Manchester United must be feeling the same as we are. Manchester United is falling, and standing again in the next game and that could be attributed to the success of the past season, different opponents or even better prepared opponents.”

“The players must be thinking, do we continue with what we did last season or do we implement the new tactics? In the process their concentration gets disturbed. We are working hard to refocus at the moment. If you look at last night, we missed as many regular players but the guys who came in took their chance and played well. It was a different balance from the usual line up due to injuries and suspensions. And if you think of it, due to the schedule we are facing ahead, we have to rotate the players;” continued Baxter.

Stuart Baxter lamented the unnecessary suspensions and continued to plead for consistency from the referees, as he thought in certain instances, where players were rough tackled, the referee didn’t produce any cautions. Baxter, expressed his doubt about the referee’s decision to give Josta Dladla the marching orders in what referee, Phillip Tinyani, considered as “use of a verbally abusive language directed at him by Dladla.”

Baxter also revealed that Team Captain Itumeleng Khune, was slightly struggling with a hamstring but his substitution was more of a precaution than forced change.

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune (Pieterse 46’), Dladla, Mashamaite, Mathoho, Ritchie, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Nkosi, Parker, Lebese (Masango 77’), Nkhatha (Majoro 56’)

Polokwane City: Marumo, Molekwane, Lichaba, Mngqibisa, Tshilo, Molala, Moyana, Rakhale (Kanyenda 71’), Motsiane (Mthimkhulu 40’), Nzimande, Gopane (Tlolane 39’)