In the aftermath of the Amakhosi’s crushing 3-0 victory over their Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout Cup Final, Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic was full of compliments for his team and their performance in what was an emotionally charged derby.

Speaking from the change room at the FNB Stadium while his player’s celebrated their victory in the background a happy Chiefs coach while reflecting back on the game with Kaizerchiefs.com said.

“All credit to my team for playing with great hunger and determination to win as well as making the early chances count. It was important for us to take the lead so that we could be in control of the game, getting the early goal definitely worked in our favour.”

Vermezovic further explained that Pirates’ mistake at the back which lead to Chiefs opening goal was as a result of a strong early offensive pressure put on them by the Amakhosi. “They made mistakes under pressure, we were able to attack them and then capitalized by making the chances that fell for us count.”

The victory now means that Vermezovic has equaled the mark set in the PSL era by Paul Doleazar and Ted Dumitru to win this particular trophy in consecutive seasons, while he becomes the fourth Chiefs coach along with Muhsin Ertugral to have won the Telkom Knockout Cup twice with the club in the PSL era.

Of his personal achievement he said, “it is very special that we were able to win this trophy and what makes it all the more important is that we have become the first team to have won it twice in one year. All credit to the players for this fantastic win”.

The Chiefs coach also paid tribute to Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala who played and scored in the final through very trying times on a personal front as his mother Rebecca is ill in hospital.

“Siphiwe showed that he is a true professional, despite all that was going on in his personal life he was able to get down and produce such a wonderful performance and we must acknowledge that.”

Since the arrival of Bobby Motaung as the Amakhosi’s football manager during the 2001 – 2002 season the club have appeared in seven finals in the Telkom Knock Out Cup and Saturday evening’s triumph was their sixth in this time.

When asked if he thought that Bobby was perhaps Chiefs’ good luck charm in this competition the coach jokingly retorted “maybe Bobby does bring us luck if we have won it so many times since he came to his post.”