“We played well in the first game against Raja,” says Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter ahead of tonight’s CAF Champions League clash against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca. “Of course, the 1-0 loss was not what we wanted. But if we can repeat that performance from a purely playing point of view, we are in the game.”

Amakhosi trained on Saturday evening in the Stade Mohammed V, where also the game will be held tonight. Kick-off is at 19:00 (20:00, South African time). The match will be broadcasted live on SuperSport 4.

Raja have lost their last three league games at home, the last of which resulted in a 2-1 defeat against Hassania Agadir. “They are not having a good run,” reacts Baxter, “which could mean that our 1-0 loss at home might turn out not to be that bad after all.”

“We can’t go gung-ho. Instead, it will be a psychological game. On the other hand, we will be without Siphiwe Tshabalala and Morgan Gould will start ahead of Erick Mathoho, who has been on Bafana Bafana duty and will be rested to have fresh legs for Thursday’s AmaZulu clash.”

Baxter is happy with the pitch of Stade Mohammed V. “The field is excellent,” Baxter comments. “The players really enjoyed training in the stadium yesterday. It’s great that with this pitch we can get the ball on the ground and play. That’s the style of soccer we are good at.”

However, there will also be issues to face in, what promises to be, a stadium packed with about 40 000 spectators.

“Sure, there are always challenges when two top sides meet,” Baxter points out. “There will be flares, there will be laser lights and so on. This will make it exciting as well. I told the players: ‘If you don’t like this kind of atmosphere, you shouldn’t play for Kaizer Chiefs. Embrace it’.”

To finish, the Amakhosi coach adds: “It’s far from lost. I am convinced that we can still turn it around and reach the next round of the Champions League. And, while saying that, I am also convinced that they are a very good team. It’s a side that we respect. We will give it our all.”