New Kaizer Chiefs striker Kenny Niemach beat a flu virus to give his new club a sweet revenge against rivals Orlando Pirates in the BP Top Eight semifinals. Niemach is now relishing the chance of playing against his former club Sundowns in the final.

"It was a surprise for me to be in the starting line-up considering the fact that I have been inactive for a very long time," he said.

"It would be very nice to play against Sundowns in the final but that decision lies with the coach."

"I have watched Sundowns play in the last couple of matches and I think we can beat them. If we (Maselesele, Pule and I) can get an understanding, I think we can take their defense on."

Niemach completed a dream move to Chiefs on Friday and played a key role in Amakhosi's 1-0 win against Pirates the following day.

Niemach, who spent the better part of last season on

loan to Moroka Swallows, was transfered by Sundowns to Manning Rangers after requesting the club to consider selling him as he wished to relocate back to his hometown of Durban to be nearer his ageing mother.

But he had hardly kicked the ball for Rangers when

the "Mighty Maulers" in turn put him on transfer in a strange turn-around

that is likely to leave insiders describing the whole move as a "triangle"

as Rangers transfered him to Chiefs a fortnight after he had signed for

them.

Orlando Pirates have signed former Kaizer Chiefs

players who left the club and went to lesser known clubs from where they

ended up at the Soweto club, notably Pollen Ndlanya who left Chiefs via

AmaZulu and then signed for Pirates, while Thabang Lebese went to Pirates

via Ria Stars first.

Niemach explained that after discussing the matter

with his fiancee, she refused to his suggestions to settle down in Durban

and he has now changed his mind and will remain in Gauteng for many more

years to come after signing a three year contract with Chiefs.

And while the man with the flowing dreadlocks has

probably left Sundowns red-faced after imploring them to release him on

humanitarian grounds, citing the ill-health of his mother as the reason why

he needed to relocate to KwaZulu-Natal as the reason, Niemach now joins that

rare group of players who have played for all Gauteng's three top clubs.

The others are Linda Buthelezi, the late Sizwe

Motaung, Donald "Ace" Khuse and Marc Batchelor and could be in coach Muhsin

Ertugral's starting line-up alongside Luke Petros or Jose Macamo when they

tackle Pirates for the right to meet Sundowns in the final scheduled for the

same venue on September 1.