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Chiefs look to 'think like a big club' and chase another win

cricket10 March 2025 11:30| © Backpage TXT
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Lehlogonolo Matlou and Wandile Duba © Backpagepix

Kaizer Chiefs will “think like a big club” and chase another win when they host Cape Town City in a Betway Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT.

MATCH BACKGROUND

Kaizer Chiefs come into the match on the back of successive wins across league and cup, with a 1-0 Betway Premiership victory over Magesi FC last midweek followed by a 3-1 triumph over Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals this past weekend.

The Amakhosi’s win over Stellies certainly had some controversy surrounding it, with Pule Mmodi’s key injury-time goal certainly one that would have gone to VAR if the PSL had the facilities for the technology, but regardless, the Soweto side will feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel through what has been a tough campaign thus far.

Cape Town City, meanwhile, have endured a nightmare run of poor form. They have gone eight matches without a win across league and cup competitions, with their most recent outing – a 1-1 draw at home to TS Galaxy last midweek – at least snapping a four-game losing streak in the Premiership.

After having the past weekend off (due to no longer being involved in the Nedbank Cup), the Citizens will have had a chance to do some hard work on the training field under the watchful eye of coach Muhsin Ertugral.

WHAT THE TEAMS ARE SAYING

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi on the need to build on their weekend win over Stellenbosch:

“It’s true that everyone is very happy, the supporters all across South Africa. But we need to think like a big club, this was a test and we need to concentrate on the next test to go all the way.”

Cape Town City coach Muhsin Erturgal on his team’s struggles:

“I'm very frustrated at the moment. I must be careful and get in line, because I don't want to say something wrong. It's always difficult after a game we dominate, especially in the first 30 minutes. The moment we scored, I asked my assistants – the coaches next to me – what we needed to do more.”

On not taking scoring chances, he added: “All these situations add up. I'm getting frustrated too, because these [concerns] are not coach-able. They're not coaching issues – it's just vision. And that's what makes me ask: how can I coach that?”

KEY PLAYERS

KAIZER CHIEFS: Pule Mmodi

Pule Mmodi has thrived this season despite Chiefs’ troubles, using his pace, dribbling and knack for scoring important goals to establish himself as a key player for the Amakhosi. The 32-year-old winger will look to keep up his momentum when Cape Town City turn up at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.

CAPE TOWN CITY: Darwin Gonzalez

Darwin Gonzalez scored in City’s 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy last midweek and also netted the only goal of the game when the Citizens and Kaizer Chiefs last met, which was in early January 2025. The Venezuelan has been one of the silver linings in a cloudy season for the Cape Town club, and he’ll be hungry to keep up his form.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and City have met in 17 league matches dating back to 2016. The Citizens have claimed eight wins compared to six for the Amakhosi, while three games have been drawn.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Cape Town Stadium in January, City claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a second-half strike from Darwin Gonzalez.

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Chiefs 3-0 City Castro, Nurkovic, Mathoho

2020/21 City 1-2 Chiefs Lakay; Ngcobo, Mashiane

2020/21 Chiefs 1-2 City Baccus; Morris, Ralani

2021/22 City 0-0 Chiefs

2021/22 Chiefs 1-2 City Zuma; Martin, Mashego

2022/23 City 2-0 Chiefs Gonzalez, Idumba

2022/23 Chiefs 0-1 City Mdantsane

2023/24 Chiefs 0-1 City Mayo

2023/24 City 0-0 Chiefs

2024/25 City 1-0 Chiefs Gonzalez

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 8 2 1 5 7 8

City 9 3 2 4 9 12

Away

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 9 4 2 3 12 9

City 8 5 1 2 8 7

Total

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 17 6 3 8 19 17

City 17 8 3 6 17 19

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