Log leaders Chiefs take aim at Arrows

Absa Premiership log leaders Kaizer Chiefs will take aim at Golden Arrows when the teams meet in an evening clash at FNB Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT.

Chiefs claimed a fifth win from their seven league matches this season when they defeated Baroka FC 1-0 at home on Saturday, September 28. The Amakhosi’s lone goal was scored by Lebogang Manyama, taking them to a tally of 16 points from a possible 21 thus far.

Coach Ernst Middendorp was happy with the victory over Baroka, but worried that he continues to lose players to injury. This includes, but is not limited to, club legend Itumeleng Khune, who limped off against Bakgaga.

“It is definitely a hard-working result. A game we’re used to playing. But we suffered definitely after the Tuesday game [September 24, a win away to AmaZulu], we had three days left [to prepare],” explained the German tactician.

“The injury that we had I was aware about it that some of the players got knocks coming into the game. On the other side, with a bit of a change in the second half we were aware about it to play a result-driven 45 minutes.”

Arrows played to a fourth consecutive draw in the league when they were held 2-2 at home by Stellenbosch on Saturday, September 28. Abafana Bes’thende led the game by two goals after a brace from Zimbabwean attacker Knox Mutizwa.

“In the first half we did well, [but] we went to sleep in the second half,” said coach Steve Komphela, who added: “It’s more like two points dropped.”

The veteran tactician continued: “Now we are facing another match [against his former team Kaizer Chiefs] and we should have been at least three points here. Whatever happens will happen, you try to say each point is important, but we’ve just given away two.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Arrows have met in 36 league matches since 2000/01. The Amakhosi have claimed 18 wins compared to eight for Abafana Bes’thende, while 10 games have been drawn. The Soweto side have won 10 of their 18 home league matches in the rivalry, suffering three defeats in the process.

Last season Arrows took four points off Chiefs in the teams’ two league meetings, winning 2-1 at Princess Magogo Stadium in December 2018 before playing out a 1-1 draw in the return game at FNB Stadium in April 2019. The Amakhosi last claimed a win in this rivalry in the 2016/17 season.

Star players to watch

Kaizer Chiefs

Khama Billiat – The Zimbabwe showed flashes of brilliance in the win over Baroka, though he continues to lack the decisiveness which features so strongly when at the top of his form. Nonetheless, Billiat will be a key attacking figurehead for the Amakhosi.

Daniel Akpeyi – With Itumeleng Khune limping off injured against Bakgaga on the weekend, Akpeyi stepped in and put up a fine showing ‘between the sticks’ to help Chiefs claim all three points. He is likely to feature strongly again on Tuesday night when Arrows come to Soweto.

Golden Arrows

Knox Mutizwa – A brace of goals from Mutizwa seemed to have set Arrows on course to beat Stellenbosch, but the Durban side let things slip in the second half. The Zimbabwean will hope to continue his form in this high-profile clash away to the Amakhosi.

Divine Lunga – The left-back is a highly capable operator both in defence and attack, and Arrows will hope to dominate down his flank against Chiefs. Lunga’s battle with Chiefs right-back Reeve Frosler could be a decisive factor in this midweek clash.