Posted in News, Team News on Jan 28, 2018.
“We wanted to win,” coach Steve Komphela commented after the goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns. “We would have loved to do that. However, it’s more one of regret than disappointment.”
Listening to both coaches after the match, one certainly got the impression that Komphela felt that the three points should have been Amakhosi’s (“we created chances, but we couldn’t score”), but that his counterpart, Pitso Mosimane, was more than happy snatching a point at FNB Stadium (“Chiefs have a good team”).
But the draw meant that the Glamour Boys couldn’t close the 5-point gap to the log leaders, Sundowns, to the satisfaction of Mosimane.
The Brazilians were six points up at the end of last year, while having a game in hand as well.
Sundowns played five league games in 2018, collecting seven points (two wins, a draw and two losses). Chiefs, meanwhile, got eight points from four matches (two wins, two draws).
As a result of this, Amakhosi have decreased the gap to Sundowns with one point in 2018, despite having played one fixture less.
“The game finished nil-nil,” Komphela added, “so the gap is still five points. Now we go our different ways to try to get the three points.”
With this the Chiefs mentor pointed out that there are still 11 Absa Premiership matches to go for both sides, which means 33 points to play for, quite a high number.
“The league is a marathon, not a sprint,” Komphela made clear. “You have to know how to pace yourselves.”
There was a record attendance for a match between Chiefs and Sundowns, with the FNB Stadium filled with 70 000 spectators, most of them Amakhosi supporters, which created a fantastic atmosphere.
On top of that, the game was a joy to watch, despite the lack of goals, and an excellent advertisement for South African soccer.
Daniel Cardoso was selected as the Absa Premiership Man of the Match for delivering a sterling performance. Sundowns coach Mosimane highlighted some others who did well: “George Maluleka was fantastic in midfield, Willard Katsande was top and Ryan Moon made some very good runs. It was a very good game to watch.”
He could have added Philani Zulu, who delivered another fine performance at the left-back position.
“There was some good energy,” Komphela concluded, “but we, as coaches, always want a result, which we didn’t really get today. Games of this magnitude are decided on small margins.”
Chiefs will now face Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday, 3 February (kick-off is at 18:00).
Last year’s league champions have had a difficult start to the season, but they did demolish SuperSport United 4-1 on the road yesterday.
The first encounter between Chiefs and Wits this season ended in a one-all draw at FNB Stadium. Wits equalised in that game in extra time after Siphiwe Tshabalala put the Glamour Boys ahead in the 53rd minute.
Listening to both coaches after the match, one certainly got the impression that Komphela felt that the three points should have been Amakhosi’s (“we created chances, but we couldn’t score”), but that his counterpart, Pitso Mosimane, was more than happy snatching a point at FNB Stadium (“Chiefs have a good team”).
But the draw meant that the Glamour Boys couldn’t close the 5-point gap to the log leaders, Sundowns, to the satisfaction of Mosimane.
The Brazilians were six points up at the end of last year, while having a game in hand as well.
Sundowns played five league games in 2018, collecting seven points (two wins, a draw and two losses). Chiefs, meanwhile, got eight points from four matches (two wins, two draws).
As a result of this, Amakhosi have decreased the gap to Sundowns with one point in 2018, despite having played one fixture less.
“The game finished nil-nil,” Komphela added, “so the gap is still five points. Now we go our different ways to try to get the three points.”
With this the Chiefs mentor pointed out that there are still 11 Absa Premiership matches to go for both sides, which means 33 points to play for, quite a high number.
“The league is a marathon, not a sprint,” Komphela made clear. “You have to know how to pace yourselves.”
There was a record attendance for a match between Chiefs and Sundowns, with the FNB Stadium filled with 70 000 spectators, most of them Amakhosi supporters, which created a fantastic atmosphere.
On top of that, the game was a joy to watch, despite the lack of goals, and an excellent advertisement for South African soccer.
Daniel Cardoso was selected as the Absa Premiership Man of the Match for delivering a sterling performance. Sundowns coach Mosimane highlighted some others who did well: “George Maluleka was fantastic in midfield, Willard Katsande was top and Ryan Moon made some very good runs. It was a very good game to watch.”
He could have added Philani Zulu, who delivered another fine performance at the left-back position.
“There was some good energy,” Komphela concluded, “but we, as coaches, always want a result, which we didn’t really get today. Games of this magnitude are decided on small margins.”
Chiefs will now face Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday, 3 February (kick-off is at 18:00).
Last year’s league champions have had a difficult start to the season, but they did demolish SuperSport United 4-1 on the road yesterday.
The first encounter between Chiefs and Wits this season ended in a one-all draw at FNB Stadium. Wits equalised in that game in extra time after Siphiwe Tshabalala put the Glamour Boys ahead in the 53rd minute.
