The coaching and playing staff are anxious for normal service to resume and resume it does this weekend as Chiefs take on Golden Arrows in an SAA Supa8 encounter at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Since South African Airways replaced BP in 2003 as the sponsors of the competition Chiefs have been unable to bring home the Supa8 title, a trophy which they last won when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in a dramatic Final in September 2001. Having been knocked out of the competition in the first round in 2003 and 2005 and landing up as beaten finalists in 2004, The Amakhosi are confident of coming through in this years event.

It is two of The Amakhosi’s veterans of many cup campaigns who are singing the optimistic high notes as the Arrows encounter nears.

Arthur Zwane, who put in an inspired performance in the second half of Chiefs Telkom Charity cup defeat at the hands of Sundowns is in high spirits and optimistic that The Amakhosi will be in next Monday’s semifinal draw. Zwane who was on target when Chiefs last collided with Arrows in a cup game, which was back in the 2004 Coca Cola Cup, is relishing a go at a young Arrows team.

“I always find that playing against teams like Arrows could prove a tougher prospect than facing Pirates or Sundowns, these guys have a lot to prove and are willing to make things very difficult for you” says Zwane.

Furthermore Zwane is adamant that Chiefs can successfully mount and attack on a number of different trophies and laying siege to the Supa8 will signal a warning to the competition. Zwane continues further “for us the time for preparing for the league and official cup competitions is over the time has come for us to signal our intentions and starting with Arrows on Saturday is a good place for us to begin”.

Sharing Arthur’s sentiments is midfield companion Thabo Mooki, who believes that Chiefs have gone five years too many without the Supa8 title. Mooki says “in May we broke a six year duck with our ABSA Cup victory. I believe the time has come to get the Supa8 title back to us before we can talk about the final. We must be focused on Arrows, they possess some excellent players and have a good coach who has worked well with a youthful team”.

Another Chiefs midfield man David Obua believes that even though Alton Meiring might not be around, Mabhuti Khanyeza still poses a number of questions and Khanyeza’s scoring record against Chiefs is something to make a note of.

“Arrows are one of those teams that you really don’t know much about, unlike Pirates and Sundowns where you know the guys and what they about. With Arrows you have to take it as it comes, from the two games we played against them last season Mabhuti Khanyeza was really a handful - remember he scored against us twice last season we will have to keep a special eye on him,” added Obua.

The Amakhosi and Arrows will open up the 2006 SAA Supa8 tournament on Saturday when the two teams meet in a Cup match in Johannesburg for the first time, Saturday’s meeting will also be the first time the two teams will face each other in the SAA Supa8 Competition. Kick Off for the game will be at 15h15 and will take place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Tickets for the game are currently on sale at Computicket and Checkers / Shoprite outlets.

Kaizer Chiefs SAA Supa8 Record since inception in 2003

2003


¼ FINALS


10th August 2003


Orkney Stadium, Orkney


Wits University 2 (Winstanley 21 min, Murisa 49 min) Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Radebe 82 min)

2004


¼ Finals


21st August 2004


FNB Stadium, Johannesburg


Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Mbesuma x2 45min, 95 min) Black Leopards 1 (Nhlekho 65 min)


After Extra Time

½ Finals


19th September 2004


ABSA Stadium, Durban


Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Mbesuma 27 min) Moroka Swallows 0

FINAL


2nd October 2004


ABSA Stadium, Durban


Super Sport United 1 (Evans 47 min pen) Kaizer Chiefs 0

2005

¼ Finals


20th August 2005


FNB Stadium, Johannesburg


Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Agyemang 1 min) Bloemfontein Celtic 2 (Nkosi 46 min, Chabalala 83 min)

Kaizer Chiefs Supa8 Record Since 2003

P	 W 	L 	GF 	GA 



Kaizer Chiefs	           5	  2	3	 5	 6

Kaizer Chiefs Top Eight 8 / Supa Eight Honours

Champions

1974 Kaizer Chiefs, 5-2 Pimville United Brothers


1976 Kaizer Chiefs, 5-3 Orlando Pirates


1977 Kaizer Chiefs, 8-2 AmaZulu


1981 Kaizer Chiefs, 7-1 Dynamos


1982 Kaizer Chiefs, 7-2 Moroka Swallows


1985 Kaizer Chiefs, (1st leg) 2-1 (2nd Leg) 1-1 Arcadia


1987 Kaizer Chiefs, (1st leg) 3-0 (2nd leg) 2-1 Rangers


1989 Kaizer Chiefs, (1st leg) 1-0 (2nd leg) 1-1 Wits University


1991 Kaizer Chiefs, 4-3 Jomo Cosmos


1992 Kaizer Chiefs, 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns


1994 Kaizer Chiefs, 3-2 Mamelodi Sundowns


2001 Kaizer Chiefs, 2-2 Mamelodi Sundowns (aet, Chiefs won 7-6 on penalties)

Runners Up

1972 Orlando Pirates, 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs


1973 Orlando Pirates, 4-3 Kaizer Chiefs


1975 Moroka Swallows, 5-3 Kaizer Chiefs


1995 Wits University, 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs


2004 SuperSport United, 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs

Past Winners

Chiefs 12 Titles 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994 & 2001


Orlando Pirates 7 Titles 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996 & 2000


Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Titles 1988 & 1990


Moroka Swallows 2 Titles 1975 & 1979


Wits University 2 Titles 1984 & 1995


Witbank Black Aces 1 Title 1980


Arcadia 1 Title 1986


Santos 1 Title 2002


Jomo Cosmos 1 Title 2003


Super Sport United 1 Title 2004


Bloemfontein Celtic 1 Title 2005

The Top 8 / Supa8 Competition was not played in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was restarted in the year 2000 and was won by Orlando Pirates who defeated Ajax Cape Town in the Final at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.