Posted in News, Team News on Oct 13, 2018.
Kaizer Chiefs will face Bloemfontein Celtic in the Macufe Cup at Free State Stadium on Sunday, 14 October. Kick-off is at 15:30.
Amakhosi have won the Macufe Cup six times, including the last two editions.
The Italian coach feels that the Macufe Cup is central to his plans for three reasons. “It’s an opportunity to see some other players in action, it’s an opportunity to prepare for next week’s Telkom Knockout Last 16 game and it’s an opportunity to win a cup.”
The Free State Stadium is usually full of supporters dressed in Gold & Black when the Glamour Boys visit Bloemfontein. “That’s another reason we need to take this game serious,” Solinas explains, “we want to play good football and if you play good football, the result will follow.”
Amakhosi have a squad of 32 players, although six of them are presently on international duty, including Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Khama Billiat, Teenage Hadebe, Virgil Vries and Godfrey Walusimbi.
Besides these, four members of the first team squad will turn out on Sunday for the reserve side, which will play a MultiChoice Challenge (MDC) clash against Free State Stars: Wiseman Meyiwa, Lethlogonolo Mirwa, Khotso Malope and Ryan Moon.
“These players need game time and that’s why they will play in the MDC,” the coach explains. “They are young and they are still developing as footballers.”
The coach furthermore says that he has been using the FIFA international break to improve the team defensively and offensively.
“I hope that we will have a beautiful game of football on Sunday,” Solinas concludes, “so that both the players and the supporters will enjoy the match. It’s a chance to celebrate the beauty of football.”