Donald ‘Aaaaaaaace’ Khuse is the classic archetype of a Kaizer Chiefs player – oozing class, style, composure and entertainment value for the fans.

And the legendary former Amakhosi midfielder is calling on the current squad to take the game to Wydad Athletic Club in their huge CAF Champions League semi-final tie and to “show them what type of team Kaizer Chiefs is”.

‘Ace’ Khuse was a member of the first Chiefs team that participated in the African Club of Champions Cup back in 1993, in the competition now known as the CAF Champions League.

The maestro was hugely influential in getting Amakhosi through the first round and giving Egyptian giants and eventual African champions that year, Zamalek, an almighty score in the second round before bowing out on away goals.

While Khuse and his teammates fell short in 1993, he is backing the current Chiefs generation to prevail against Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca in their gigantic two-legged continental cup tie.

“In 1993 we had a really good team and we were not scared to play Zamalek” reminisced Khuse, before adding “we had belief in ourselves, and we said we were going to show them what type of team Kaizer Chiefs is. And we did. We beat them in the first leg, but unfortunately we conceded a goal late in the game despite winning 2-1 and then we lost 1-0 away from home”.

Taking a leaf out of Chiefs book in 1993 – when they had won their away games in the earlier rounds in Botswana and Rwanda – Ace feels it will be vital for Chiefs to return from Casablanca with a positive result.

“When you go away, you must be able to score a goal and try to hold out for a good result. When you come back, they will go all out for you and try to get one goal and block you defensively. Then it becomes difficult for you to score,” says Khuse.

Ace says Chiefs players need to understand the gravity of the game and is calling out for Amakhosi heroes to step up and provide inspiration for the team.

“We should have won the Champions League in 1993. We had the will to win and the unity. In the first leg against Zamalek, Isaac Kungoane played the best game I have ever seen him play in a Chiefs shirt. You need a playmaker of that caliber to frustrate them. They will not know whether to attack or defend,” says Khuse.

Ace has picked out Nkosingiphile Ngcobo as the player he feels can help Chiefs dominate against Wydad the way ‘Shakes’ did against Zamalek in 1993.

“It was important having a player who was so skillful and tactically advanced. He could marshal the midfield and lay on telling passes. We have Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, who I believe can do that for Chiefs, and play the role of frustrating the opponents”.

‘Ace’ has also been an avid spectator at Naturena this week, watching the Chiefs first team going through their paces, as they put the final touches on their preparations for the Wydad clash.

“I saw the team at training this week, you can see the confidence and the belief is there. They can go through to the finals,” says Khuse.

Chiefs will head to Morocco on Wednesday for the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final, which takes place on Saturday at 21h00 SA time in Casablanca.