“We are looking at improving on last season’s performance,” promises Kaizer Chiefs reserve team coach Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse ahead of their Multichoice Diski Challenge opener on Sunday afternoon. “We achieved our objectives last time around, but we plan to do better this season when it comes to reaching the knockout stage.”

Amakhosi’s Reserves play Jomo Cosmos at Tembisa’s Makhulong Stadium today, 6 September (kick-off at 15:00). Chiefs failed to proceed to the knockout stage last season, with eventual winners Tuks reigning supreme in their round robin group stage.

“While we didn't advance to the knockout stages,” reacts Khuse, “we did support the first team in terms of giving game time to players from the senior squad.”

For Sunday afternoon’s clash against Cosmos, four first team players have been included in the reserve team squad to get game time: the newly signed striker Edward Manqele, Lorenzo Gordinho, Levy Mokgothu as well as Andiswa Mtsila and Sibongiseni Ngcobo, who were both recently promoted from the development structures to the first team.

“I will be at the game,” stresses Chiefs head coach Steve Komphela, “because we want to bridge the gap between the development structures and the first team. The idea is to have one soccer philosophy for all the Chiefs sides, from the Under-17s to the senior team.”

To conclude, Khuse says about this afternoon’s Cosmos match: “We are looking forward to start this campaign on the right footing.”

09:00 Free State Stars vs Polokwane City


11:00 Bidvest Wits vs Ajax Cape Town


13:00 Bloemfontein Celtic vs SuperSport United


15:00 Kaizer Chiefs vs Jomo Cosmos

Tickets for the match day are free, but they must be collected beforehand with an ID in possession at Computicket.