Posted in News, Team News on Jan 13, 2019.
“Zesco United are a quality side,” confirms coach Ernst Middendorp ahead of Sunday’s first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup play-off round against the Zambians. “We will try, however, to attack and go forward to make things happen.”
The Kaizer Chiefs squad arrived on Saturday morning in Zambia’s Ndola. Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola is where the match will be played on Sunday (kick-off is at 15:00, Zambian and South African time).
The German coach wants to approach the game in the same the fashion as the two fixtures played in 2019, against Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits. “We shouldn’t be too brave,” he adds, “but we have the confidence and we are on track with the idea of how we want to play.”
Middendorp watched videos of Zesco’s previous games in the CAF Champions League, against Niger Premier League side, Sonidep and Congolese club, TP Mazembe.
Zesco lost over two legs to TP Mazembe, joining thereafter the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The winner on aggregate over the two legs will qualify for the group stage of the Confederation Cup.
The technical team and the players walked early on Saturday afternoon from the hotel to the stadium to do a pitch inspection. “The grass is fantastic,” Middendorp remarked while walking on the field. “It’s a really good pitch, which comes as a bit of a surprise after what we experienced in the previous round in Madagascar.”
This bodes well for a quality game of football.
Chiefs do, of course, have some players out due to injury, including Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Mulomowandau Mathoho and Joseph Molangoane.
A newcomer to the injury list is George Maluleka, who didn’t travel to Zambia. He’s suffering from a slight Achilles problem, sustained during Wednesday’s match against Wits. It’s nothing too serious, but it was decided to give the midfielder some time to fully recover.
Willard Katsande, however, is back from injury. “Willard could have played against Wits,” says Middendorp, “but, as in the case with George, we wanted Willard to recover fully. He will definitely start tomorrow.”
The German coach explains that, “We don’t want to experiment too much. Our data collected during the Wits game showed that we were able to take one gear up during the last 20 minutes of play. It means that we don’t need to give players a break at the moment”.
Amakhosi will also be without Kgotso Moleko and Lorenzo Gordinho, who are presently not registered to play Confederation Cup games. Moleko has done well in recent weeks, replacing the injured Mphahlele.
“We have options,” reacts Middendorp, before making a final comment on Sunday’s match. ”It’s our aim to lay here a good foundation for the second leg next week in Johannesburg.”
The second leg between Chiefs and Zesco will take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 19 January (kick-off is at 20:00). Tickets for the second leg are already available at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers at R40.
The Kaizer Chiefs squad arrived on Saturday morning in Zambia’s Ndola. Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola is where the match will be played on Sunday (kick-off is at 15:00, Zambian and South African time).
The German coach wants to approach the game in the same the fashion as the two fixtures played in 2019, against Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits. “We shouldn’t be too brave,” he adds, “but we have the confidence and we are on track with the idea of how we want to play.”
Middendorp watched videos of Zesco’s previous games in the CAF Champions League, against Niger Premier League side, Sonidep and Congolese club, TP Mazembe.
Zesco lost over two legs to TP Mazembe, joining thereafter the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The winner on aggregate over the two legs will qualify for the group stage of the Confederation Cup.
The technical team and the players walked early on Saturday afternoon from the hotel to the stadium to do a pitch inspection. “The grass is fantastic,” Middendorp remarked while walking on the field. “It’s a really good pitch, which comes as a bit of a surprise after what we experienced in the previous round in Madagascar.”
This bodes well for a quality game of football.
Chiefs do, of course, have some players out due to injury, including Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Mulomowandau Mathoho and Joseph Molangoane.
A newcomer to the injury list is George Maluleka, who didn’t travel to Zambia. He’s suffering from a slight Achilles problem, sustained during Wednesday’s match against Wits. It’s nothing too serious, but it was decided to give the midfielder some time to fully recover.
Willard Katsande, however, is back from injury. “Willard could have played against Wits,” says Middendorp, “but, as in the case with George, we wanted Willard to recover fully. He will definitely start tomorrow.”
The German coach explains that, “We don’t want to experiment too much. Our data collected during the Wits game showed that we were able to take one gear up during the last 20 minutes of play. It means that we don’t need to give players a break at the moment”.
Amakhosi will also be without Kgotso Moleko and Lorenzo Gordinho, who are presently not registered to play Confederation Cup games. Moleko has done well in recent weeks, replacing the injured Mphahlele.
“We have options,” reacts Middendorp, before making a final comment on Sunday’s match. ”It’s our aim to lay here a good foundation for the second leg next week in Johannesburg.”
The second leg between Chiefs and Zesco will take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 19 January (kick-off is at 20:00). Tickets for the second leg are already available at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers at R40.
