On the spirit in the Chiefs camp after positive recent results:

The lads have been working hard. They were obviously buoyed by the last result (against SuperSport United). And it’s shown in training, the training quality has been very good. We’ve just been looking at the stats and how much they’ve been running and the speed at which they’ve been running, and it’s above normal.

On the team’s approach to the game against Stellenbosch:

They’re looking forward to the game. They know Stellenbosch are having a very good time. They play, with all due respect, with less pressure than a Pirates, or a Sundowns, or a Chiefs, because people have got this misguided view that if you’re not one of the big three, then you’re not expected. But Stellenbosch and Steve Barker have done a fine job and they’re a very difficult opponent, as everyone who has played them so far can attest to. We know we’ve got a tough game on our hands and we will have to be at our best if we are going to win the game.

On the possibility of complacency against Stellenbosch ahead of the Soweto Derby:

There’s that in the back of somebody’s mind if it’s the Milan derby or the North London derby or the Old Firm derby, you run a risk the game before a derby of players taking their eye off the ball. We have spoken about that. But again, Stellenbosch are such a dangerous opponent at this moment in time, that we know we’ve got to stay focused. I’m hoping that will not be an issue. But it is a banana.

On Chiefs’ improved current level of performance:

In some of our games, we’ve created lots of chances and not taken them. And in some games, we’ve slipped up and given away silly goals and not taken the points. What’s been the difference now is that we’ve given away fewer chances, and some of the chances we’ve created, we’ve scored. So those small differences have a major impact on the result. That’s what we’re hoping we can continue with. We’re working hard on our movement in the last third and defending our own box. Those two areas of the field, the defending and the attacking third, it’s vital that you are consistent there.

On competing against the overall quality of the teams in the DStv Premiership:

We’ve seen good football in every game, but it’s not been consistent. It’s becoming more consistent, more and more efficient, but we’re still not there. We will get there. At the level we’re at now, if we can produce our best football, I think we’re a match for any team in the league. But we’re quite fragile at the moment. We do have injury problems yes, we have the issues of learning a new way of playing, and we are also in a league where the other teams are improving. If you look at the strength of the league, more teams can beat more teams now, it’s not a foregone conclusion when you play anybody, so given all those things it is a process. But the boys have done a good job getting to the level they have. Now our challenge is to stay focused, stay committed to the process, stay switched on and enjoy that trip. I hope our supporters when we play our best football, I hope it’s a brand of football that they enjoy.

On Chiefs climbing the log table:

I think the supporters, the sponsors, everybody looks at the log, so it’s important where you are. Sometimes we’ve got to try not to study the log, we’ve got to study our performance. That’s what will affect the results. When we get to the business end of the season, yes we will have a look at it; where we can scrape a point, where we can get a draw and where we can go for a win. For the moment we’ll just let the punters study the log, have their discussions at work and with their friends. We will just stay focused on our performance.

On approaching his 100^th league match in charge of Chiefs:

It’s a pleasure, it’s an honour. I’m not one for medals, records and stuff like that. But everything in this life is a milestone. Your age is a milestone, it tells you how many suns you’ve seen and how many seasons you’ve played. So, it’s something I’ll reflect on quietly, then move on and try to win the game.