Platinum Stars next on Chiefs radar
Absa Premiership pace setters Kaizer Chiefs will be out to maintain their momentum when Platinum Stars attempts to become the first team to beat the Amakhosi when the two teams clash in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon in an Absa Premiership match at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Place, kick-off at 3:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
This past Tuesday, Chiefs extended their undefeated run in the league to 11 matches. Moroka Swallows was the latest team to fail to stop Chiefs when they suffered a 3-2 Soweto derby defeat at the hands of their neighbours.
Stars, on the other hand, had a contrasting result as they succumbed to a shock 2-1 away loss in Cape Town to PSL debutants Chippa United.
With Chiefs scoring deep into stoppage time (96th minute) in their last encounter, Stars conceded a goal two minutes from time in their fixture with the Chippa.
Dikwena’s coach Cavan Johnson says that his side will be ready for this match with the form team in the league and should embrace this match as they have nothing to fear when the Glamour Boys come to the North West.
“Chiefs are unbeaten this season and in top form, but I know my players will be up for it. This is the kind of game where you do not have to go out there and motivate the players,” says Johnson.
“Chiefs will come to us on Saturday with their tails up, but we have made life difficult for visiting teams at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace this season and I am confident that we can get a result on Saturday.”
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, who hailed his team’s persistence and resilience when his side grabbed the late winner against Swallows, hopes that his charges will make it six points out of six by the end of the week in what promises to be a thrilling battle against the rejuvenated Dikwena.
“I am sure the players are sitting there thinking about the upcoming game as an exciting challenge more than a problem. We are taking it one game at a time and we will have to approach the game against Stars with the same mentality to win,” explains Baxter.
“We will be playing in different conditions because of the heat and we might give a few players who have not had much game time a run. We might also change tactics a little bit.”
Chiefs have a four point lead over second placed and bitter rivals Orlando Pirates (23 points from eleven outings with eight wins and three draws). Amakhosi together with the Buccaneers have the tightest defence with seven goals conceded, but Chiefs are by far the heaviest scorers so far with 24 goals.
Dikwena, who two weeks ago were as high as second on the standings, have 19 points and are placed in fourth position, eight points behind the leaders and weekend opponents.
