On preparing for a hectic start to the season, with three games in one week:

The most important thing was our pre-season, preparing us for all of these games. We were fully aware that we had these back-to-back league games and, in between, we have a cup game. All the games we have categorised as Grade A games, including the game against Mamelodi Sundowns. It is all about the mental and physical readiness of the players. We are still within the 48-hour recovery period and all the players still need extra hours of recovery. But it is all part of the work we have to do. We have done our preparations for this game, tactically and physically we are ready to exert ourselves and apply what needed to be applied come Wednesday.

On what to expect after opening the season with a draw in the first league game:

We are playing this game on the back of having drawn against Chippa. We still have to put some smiles on our faces and on the faces of our supporters. It will be a very difficult game playing against the current Premier Soccer League champions, but as Kaizer Chiefs we are ready.

On how he has prepared for the back-to-back fixtures:

For the month we have already drawn up a programme that will help us prepare the team tactically, physically and mentally. We are fully aware when we played Chippa that we had Sundowns on Wednesday, and when we play Sundowns, we know we have the MTN8 against Cape Town City on Sunday. We have prepared for all those situations, if one has to put it that way.

All was done in pre-season; it is now all about the boys getting the tactical understanding and the proper application of our principles, and then we will start winning games.

On what will be needed against Sundowns:

We have had the opportunity to analyse them, seeing their game against Sekhukhune United, but it will be a different ball game altogether. They are playing Kaizer Chiefs, we are playing Sundowns. Whatever analysis you have done, it is about how you apply yourselves in the match and how you carry out the instructions on the day, and how you keep focused and maintain a high level of concentration, in terms of how we want to play. Both teams will be competing to win the game. Both teams have prepared for this game and we are looking forward to having a very good performance against Sundowns.

On the state of the Kaizer Chiefs squad:

We started the pre-season without our attackers, most of whom were injured, but they’ve since come back to train with the team. If you look at our medical list, we still have Keagan Dolly and Edmilson Dove out of the team. George Matlou, Dillon Solomons and Kamohelo Mahlatsi are coming back from some niggling injuries and only started training with the team this week, so they are not available for selection. But the guys who have been training very hard and preparing well will be ready to carry the hopes and belief of the Khosi Nation.