Posted in News on Feb 07, 2007.
On the 1st October last year, Derrick proved an unlikely hero when he stormed through the Arrows defence and with five minutes remaining on the clock to score his first goal in Chiefs' colours. Spencer’s goal was all the more significant as it sealed a 2-1 victory for Chiefs in Chatsworth. The win against Arrows in October was Chiefs' first three-points haul of the current season.
As Chiefs prepare for a bout with Arrows on Saturday, Derrick Spencer who was out of action from November to the middle of January as he was nursing a groin injury, has got Golden Arrows firmly in his sights and is hopeful of seeing some action against Arrows, and will be looking once again at piercing Arrows hearts.
Kaizerchiefs.com spoke to Derrick on Wednesday and posed a number of questions to him, and got his views on the happenings of the past week as well as his predictions for this weekends game against Arrows.
kc.com: Derrick you got the winning goal when you played against Arrows earlier this season. Are you looking for a repeat performance when Chiefs play Arrows at the weekend when that was your first goal for Chiefs?
DS: You're right. That goal in October was definitely one I will remember, apart from it being the only goal I have scored at Chiefs, it was the winning goal and it came a few minutes after Arrows had levelled the scores. I could sense the disappointment in the stadium as there were only a couple of minutes to go when Khanyeza levelled the scores. Then the opportunity fell my way and thankfully I made the most of it and got us the winning goal.
kc.com: In October you got the winning goal against them. Prior to that in a league game in September 2005, when Chiefs managed to score a 3-1 win over Arrows in Durban, which incidentally was the club's first away victory over Arrows, you were named man of the match. Is there a certain personal rivalry between you and Arrows that you go the extra mile to ensure Chiefs are victorious against them?
DS: Them being from Durban and myself being born in Durban adds some sort of spice to the proceedings whenever we play against them, I know some of the Arrows players from before. On a serious note, I think it has to do with the style of football that Arrows play, they play a very attacking brand of soccer. I just feel that perhaps I can match them well and I really do enjoy playing against Arrows. They are not the kind of team that sits back and waits for you, Arrows can run at a defence from the word go. One just has to view our games against them over the last season and I guarantee you, you will not find a dull game.
kc.com: Do you feel that you have sufficiently recovered from the injury, which sidelined you for almost two months?
DS: I think I have, the thing is that since I have resumed training with the rest of the team I have not had any problems and also I have played in a couple of friendly games and made a brief appearance as a substitute. So I do think that recovery process went well. Being out of action for such a long time is really frustrating and I hope that for the rest of my career I do not have to nurse a serious injury again.
kc.com: With the team's loss against Sundowns over the weekend, are you of the opinion that Chiefs are still in with a serious shout at the title?
DS: Losing to Sundowns in the way that we did has been hard for us to come to terms with. It was a game where I think we did not put on the kind of show that we know we can. What the loss does mean is that we have our work cut out for us from here on in. We know that we need to win our remaining games and cannot lose any of them, obviously that is a tough ask but we do find ourselves in this precarious position. We need to, as a team, support each other and play ourselves back into a position where we are again in close proximity to the log leaders. There is one other thing and that is we can also pray that a number of the other title contenders lose or draw games. Should they do that it will work in our favour.
kc.com: Do you feel that the team can begin fighting their way back and be taken seriously again as title challengers, with a win against Golden Arrows on Saturday?
DS: Like I said we cannot afford to drop any points till the end of the season. After Saturday’s loss we are more determined than ever to make amends and challenge whoever it may be all the way to the end of the season in May. Arrow have never been an easy team to play against and they have had mini revival of sorts recently. They have won their last two games, so their confidence levels will definitely be high, but as determined as they will be to win, the same will be true for us. A win will be a morale-booster for us as we play Arrows again in two weeks time in the ABSA Cup. The three points that will come with the win, will help us keep in touch with Ajax Cape Town, SuperSport United and Sundowns.