Posted in News on Mar 01, 2007.
The Amakhosi with eight PSL matches remaining over the next three months, will be aiming to finish as high up as possible in the standings in order to put themselves inline to qualify in a strong position for next seasons SAA Supa 8 competition. Chiefs will fancy their chances on Saturday evening over Amazulu who are currently rooted to the bottom of the table, and fighting for their PSL survival.
Chiefs will be looking to over turn the disappointment of Sunday’s loss to Arrows, and coach Ernst Middendorp will he hoping for his team to put on the same kind of display that they did a fortnight ago in a 0-1 away league win at Bidvest Wits. Against Wits Chiefs were ruthless in their dominance of the opposition and there were lengthy periods in the game, where Chiefs controlled possession and the opposition hardly got a look in.
Should Chiefs be able to forget about their ABSA Cup disappointment and play like they did in the win against Wits, then the possibility of completing a league double over Amazulu is in the offing, as it was Chiefs who were the winners by two goals to nil when the teams met earlier in the season in Durban.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
Over the eleven seasons of the PSL Kaizer Chiefs have always had the better of Amazulu, losing just one of thirteen games since 1996 against Amazulu, in addition Chiefs have drawn match in the PSL against the Usuthu.
The one game that Chiefs did lose to Amazulu did however cost Chiefs the title back in 1998 – 1999, in the second meeting between the two teams that season Chiefs narrowly lost the game 3-2.
Eventually it was a result which cost The Amakhosi the title as they eventually lost out to Mamelodi Sundowns on goal difference that season. A draw against Amazulu in March 1999 would probably have been enough for Chiefs to have ended the 1998 – 1999 season as league Champions.
While they did endure the heartbreak of losing to Amazulu during the 1998 – 1999 season Chiefs have for the most part dominated the Usuth, with a number of high scoring victories over them. Amongst Chiefs more memorable games against Amazulu one would have to travel back to the opening game of the 1999 – 2000 season, when a young Jabu Pule opened the scoring on his official Chiefs debut.
As Pule laid the groundwork for what was to be an emphatic 4-1 win at the Johannesburg Stadium for The Amakhosi. During the 2003 – 2004 season The Amakhosi managed to knock eight goals past Amazulu, as Chiefs managed to win 4-0 in Durban and 4-1 in Johannesburg. With current Amazulu striker John Shoes Moshoeu leading the way in the latter match, with a hat trick as Chiefs other goal was scored by Tinashe Nengomasha.
Chiefs victory over Amazulu on the 16th May 2004 guided Chiefs to their first PSL Championships, while it did sound the death knell for Amazulu as they were relegated out of the PSL.
FORM
To be honest one will have to say that both Chiefs and Amazulu have been lacking in this department of late, while Chiefs did manage to win their last league game against Wits, 2007 has probably not been Chiefs best half of the current season.
Of the seven league matches that they have played in 2007, The Amakhosi have won three, lost three and drawn one game ultimately this has put paid to their chances of being closer to the log leaders and being able to strongly challenge for league honours.
With one win out of their last four games in all competition Chiefs will be looking to get back to some form, with a win against the leagues bottom side, which might not prove to be to challenging.
Amazulu for their part have not fared any better and have lost three of their last three league encounters, even though they have managed to progress to the next round of the ABSA Cup they will be looking for an improvement in their fortunes in the league.
KEY PLAYERS
During the 2003 – 2004 season when Chiefs managed to win the PSL title for the first time in their history, they managed to do so thanks to the ten goals scored in the league by veteran striker John Shoes Moshoeu.
The veteran striker was amongst the goals again the following season when Chiefs successfully defended their league title, at the end of last season though Shoes and Chiefs parted ways.
Now on the other side of forty Shoes teamed up with Amazulu at the start of the current season, and has already scored four goals this season, and will be relishing the opportunity to come up against his old friends.
Even in his forties Shoes remains a competitive sportsman and will not let up against the Amakhosi on Saturday evening, and will be looking to prove what he has been demonstrating on the field over the past number years that to him age is nothing more than a number.
While Ernst Middendorp has said that he is aiming for his team to improve game by game as they play out the season, the Chiefs coach will be looking towards some of his old hands to help him achieve this.
In particular defender Patrick Mayo who has been in good form recently, as he shone in the matches against BidVest Wits and even during the ABSA Cup loss to Golden Arrows.
Mayo will need to use the experience he has garned over the years to help keep the Chiefs defence together as a strong back bone will help Chiefs be able to be more competitive in other parts of the field.
Past results: Kaizer Chiefs Vs Amazulu/ Zulu Royals
1996 – 1997
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Khumalo)
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Williams) Amazulu 0
1997 – 1998
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Kungoane 41’, Biyela 76’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Muchichwa 63’, Masunda 65’) Amazulu 1
1998 – 1999
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Muchichwa 18’ pen, Lebese 28’, Nomvete 49’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Lebese 48’, Nomvete 79’) Amazulu 3
1999 – 2000
Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Pule 30’, Nomvete 47’, Mooki 58’, Makua 62’) Amazulu 1
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nomvete 9’, 14’)
Past results:
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Amazulu/ Zulu Royals
1996 – 1997
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Khumalo)
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Williams) Amazulu 0
1997 – 1998
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Kungoane 41’, Biyela 76’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Muchichwa 63’, Masunda 65’) Amazulu 1
1998 – 1999
Amazulu 1 Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Muchichwa 18’ pen, Lebese 28’, Nomvete 49’)
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Lebese 48’, Nomvete 79’) Amazulu 3
1999 – 2000
Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Pule 30’, Nomvete 47’, Mooki 58’, Makua 62’) Amazulu 1
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nomvete 9’, 14’)
2001-2002
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Permall 48’) Amazulu 1
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0
2003 – 2004
• Amazulu played as Zulu Royals
Zulu Royals 0 Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Mayo 28’, Nzama o.g. 42, Fredericks 62’, Dlamini 89’)
Kaizer Chiefs 4 (Moshoeu 4’, 41’, 85’, Nengomasha 87’) Zulu Royals 1
2006 - 2007
Amazulu 0 Kaizer Chiefs (Motaung 16’, Radebe 54’)
Kaizer Chiefs Vs Amazulu head to head since inception of the PSL in 1996 – 1997
P W L D GF GA GD
Kaizer Chiefs 13 9 1 3 27 10 17
Amazulu 13 1 9 3 10 27 -17
