United ready for Chiefs
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00
Defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United will be aiming at collecting their first three home points of the season when they host wounded Kaizer Chiefs at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
United coach Gavin Hunt will be looking at new signing Siyabonga
Nkosi, to light the fire against his former club.
Nkosi's confidence was boosted last week when he was recalled to
the Bafana Bafana squad to play Serbia. He did not play in that 3-1
defeat by the eastern Europeans but the fact he is back in the
Bafana set-up will have done his confidence a power of good after
some time in the international wilderness.
Said his coach Gavin Hunt: "Nkosi is getting better and will
improve with every game. His national call-up is a help and I hope
he will shine against Chiefs as this is the perfect platform for
him to show his potential."
'Amakhosi' were given what many believe a raw deal by the match
referee at Newlands on Saturday when Ajax Cape Town defeated
them 1-0 in their MTN8 semifinal first leg cup-tie.
But Hunt, who has won back-to-back championship titles with his
club, is not reading too much into Chiefs' loss.
"Chiefs started the season with a new coach (Vladimir
Vermezovic), with new vigour and enthusiasm.
"They might have been a bit unlucky against Ajax but in their
favour they have been playing competitive games week in and week
out, while our last competitive match was our opening league game
away to Maritzburg United 11 days ago and that might count against
us."
Hunt said he did not think the setback against Ajax would have
much impact on the league clash against his championship winning
side. "Chiefs still have a second leg at home (at Orlando Stadium
on Sunday) and I think they will be motivated against us."
Like United, Chiefs drew their opening league match last weekend
? a disappointing 0-0 draw against Santos at Orlando Stadium.
But Hunt said that as teams get fitter the standard of the
gamers will pick up. "We created a lot of chances against
Maritzburg but we need to start making sure we capitalise on those
chances."
Hunt will also be looking to his experienced former Bafana
striker Glen Salmon, to hit the back of the night assisted by the
likes as Anthony Laffor, and winger Daine Klate.
Hunt said he respected Chiefs who have a formidable attack with
the likes of veteran former Bafana striker Nkosinathi 'Chippa'
Nhleko, Kaizer Motaung jr, Jose Torrealba and newcomer Knowledge
Musona, a promising teenager from Zimbabwe.
But Chiefs will be feeling the effects of a bruising cup-tie
against Ajax and that could force Vermezovic to change his approach
to this match with an important cup semi-final at the weekend.
Hunt said the game would be a match between two teams of
contrasting styles. "We play a different game and that is what will
make this match interesting.
"We know how important it is to get early points. I am not
complaining about the draw away to Maritzburg, but we need to make
sure of three points at home starting with Chiefs.
Hunt has a lot of non-starters with the likes of captain Ricardo
Katza, David Kannemeyer and Brent Carelse, among a number of key
players who are in the treatment room with an assortment of
injuries.