Posted in News, Team News on Apr 23, 2021.
Kaizer Chiefs will travel to Pretoria on Sunday to face log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in a DStv Premiership clash at the Vodacom Loftus Stadium. Amakhosi will be looking to put one over the defending league champions and get back on track as their aim to finish within the top eight places at the end of the season.
Chiefs and Sundowns will meet for a 50th time in the PSL era with Chiefs having won 20 of their previous 49 clashes and Sundowns recording 15 wins, with 14 draws.
Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune relishes these big games and is hopeful that Chiefs will get a positive result from their meeting with Sundowns on Sunday afternoon.
After Chiefs’ eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended with a 2-1 loss at home to Cape Town City on Wednesday evening, Khune who is closing in on 350 appearances for Amakhosi having officially featured 348 times for the club, feels that lapses of concentration have cost Chiefs at crucial moments in matches. He says that they are working to eradicate these and minimise the mistakes.
“I feel we can fix those errors and believe that I can play a part in doing so,” says Chiefs’ long serving keeper. “I think we can avoid conceding those silly goals, but it takes the whole team to stay focused and switched on throughout the 90 minutes. As a goalkeeper you have to lead from the back to the front. You just have to keep all the players on their toes and have to keep reminding them to stay switched on.”
Khune’s next DStv Premiership game will be his 269th league appearance for Chiefs. He believes that although they will be facing a tough assignment against Sundowns on Sunday, Chiefs have the quality to match them and will be ready to push the current league leaders all the way.
“We know what to expect,” he confirms. “They are a very good side and play good football. We are also doing well so it’s going to be a tough match. We just have to go to Loftus and give our all. We have to try and match Sundowns in all departments as individuals. If we can win our individual battles, we can come out victorious.
“We are going to Pretoria for a big battle. We are not going to make it easy for our opponents and are going to go there to defend the badge. it is important that we take the game to them and not allow them spaces, not allow them to take advantage of the fact that we lost our previous game against Cape Town City.”
The Chiefs goalminder also feels that its vital that Amakhosi know the value of this game and exactly what a victory will do for Amakhosi and their seven league games that will follow. “It’s very important we go in there knowing very well what is at stake,” he stresses. “We are not in a good position at the moment and we are a big club and it has to show on the day that we want to get into the top eight. We need to start by collecting three points on Sunday against Sundowns. It’s important that we make our Kaizer Chiefs faithful proud of their players and their team.”
Last season Chiefs defeated Sundowns in the corresponding fixture winning the game 2-0. Chiefs have in the PSL era largely done well on their travels to face Sundowns having won 9 out of their 24 away league games against them, while losing 9 and drawing six.
With this being the 50th league clash between the sides since 1996-97, Amakhosi will be looking to begin a new phase in their storied rivalry with Sundowns with a win.
The game will be live on DStv Channel 202 and SABC 1 on Sunday at 15:00. There will also be commentary across various SABC radio station, with updates on Twitter @kaizerchiefs.
Chiefs and Sundowns will meet for a 50th time in the PSL era with Chiefs having won 20 of their previous 49 clashes and Sundowns recording 15 wins, with 14 draws.
Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune relishes these big games and is hopeful that Chiefs will get a positive result from their meeting with Sundowns on Sunday afternoon.
After Chiefs’ eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions was ended with a 2-1 loss at home to Cape Town City on Wednesday evening, Khune who is closing in on 350 appearances for Amakhosi having officially featured 348 times for the club, feels that lapses of concentration have cost Chiefs at crucial moments in matches. He says that they are working to eradicate these and minimise the mistakes.
“I feel we can fix those errors and believe that I can play a part in doing so,” says Chiefs’ long serving keeper. “I think we can avoid conceding those silly goals, but it takes the whole team to stay focused and switched on throughout the 90 minutes. As a goalkeeper you have to lead from the back to the front. You just have to keep all the players on their toes and have to keep reminding them to stay switched on.”
Khune’s next DStv Premiership game will be his 269th league appearance for Chiefs. He believes that although they will be facing a tough assignment against Sundowns on Sunday, Chiefs have the quality to match them and will be ready to push the current league leaders all the way.
“We know what to expect,” he confirms. “They are a very good side and play good football. We are also doing well so it’s going to be a tough match. We just have to go to Loftus and give our all. We have to try and match Sundowns in all departments as individuals. If we can win our individual battles, we can come out victorious.
“We are going to Pretoria for a big battle. We are not going to make it easy for our opponents and are going to go there to defend the badge. it is important that we take the game to them and not allow them spaces, not allow them to take advantage of the fact that we lost our previous game against Cape Town City.”
The Chiefs goalminder also feels that its vital that Amakhosi know the value of this game and exactly what a victory will do for Amakhosi and their seven league games that will follow. “It’s very important we go in there knowing very well what is at stake,” he stresses. “We are not in a good position at the moment and we are a big club and it has to show on the day that we want to get into the top eight. We need to start by collecting three points on Sunday against Sundowns. It’s important that we make our Kaizer Chiefs faithful proud of their players and their team.”
Last season Chiefs defeated Sundowns in the corresponding fixture winning the game 2-0. Chiefs have in the PSL era largely done well on their travels to face Sundowns having won 9 out of their 24 away league games against them, while losing 9 and drawing six.
With this being the 50th league clash between the sides since 1996-97, Amakhosi will be looking to begin a new phase in their storied rivalry with Sundowns with a win.
The game will be live on DStv Channel 202 and SABC 1 on Sunday at 15:00. There will also be commentary across various SABC radio station, with updates on Twitter @kaizerchiefs.
