After reaching the final of the Vodacom Challenge against Manchester United, Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral is looking to rest some of his senior players for their first game at the Telkom Charity Cup.

“I want to give everybody an opportunity to play,” the Turkish-born coach stresses, “I will therefore start with a few youngsters like Thabang Rooi, Gordon Gilbert and Siphelele Mthembu.”

The Amakhosi will face Mamelodi Sundowns at North West Province’s Mmabatho Stadium on Saturday (kick-off at 12am).

Kaizer Chiefs did well in the Vodacom Challenge, drawing 1-1 against Manchester United and beating Orlando Pirates 2-0, before losing 4-0 in the final against the Red Devils. However, Amakhosi coach Ertugral now wants to rest a few of his senior players for Saturday’s match against Sundowns before the Top Eight kicks off in about ten days time.

“Some of the new players like Jose Torrealba, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Valery Nahayo looked tired in the final,” Ertugral comments. “I don’t want to overuse them and that’s why I will rest them.”

The Chiefs coach is happy with a few of the new youngsters like George Lebese and Mthembu, who both came from Vodacom League teams. “It’s a pity those boys were not scouted at the age of 14. In fact, that’s unbelievable. Not so much because of us, but no other club spotted them as well. If they would have been scouted five years ago, these kids would already have been playing in Europe by now.”

For Jose Torrealba it will be his first chance to play against his former teammates at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he played between 2005 and 2007, even though he will probably start on the bench. “It will be interesting,” he smiles. Another Amakhosi showing some good early form is David Mathebula.

“It will be tough against Sundowns,” the skilful winger reacts. They have so many international players. That’s why we have to play as a team, because if we play as individuals, Sundowns will win. But if we come up with a team effort we can beat them!”

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