Chiefs brace themselves for tough PSL showdown against tile rivals Wits

23 August 2016 - 15:33 By Marc Strydom

Kaizer Chiefs want to have a good start in the Premier Soccer League season‚ but know that their new-look squad faces a stiff test against Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday night. Chiefs‚ who have cleared out more than 15 players from their squad that did not win a trophy last season‚ meet a Wits team who have conceivably put themselves under pressure with the sort of squad they have assembled.The Clever Boys have finished third‚ third and second in three seasons under Gavin Hunt‚ but not won a trophy in that period.Chiefs will know that this is perhaps the sternest test their much-refreshed squad could face at the start of the season‚ apart perhaps from meeting arch-rivals Orlando Pirates or champions Mamelodi Sundowns.“It’s a big test and the beginning of the 2016-17 journey against Wits‚” said veteran midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala. “They are a top team‚ and a side who always compete for league honours.“So we’re facing top opponents‚ but it’s a good test for us. Because we are also competing for league honours‚ and that’s the only way to compete – to play against the best.”Chiefs finished fifth in the PSL last season.Amakhosi left-back Tsepo Masilela said the Soweto giants want to get off to a convincing start‚ to put behind them the patchy form that plagued Chiefs in Steve Komphela’s first season as coach in 2015-16.“This is the opener and everyone wants to start on a high. We want to have a good run from the word go‚” former Getafe left-back Masilela said.“We don’t want to play catch up. We want to be in the thick of things from the start. We have learnt our lessons and this time we are geared to have a good run from the beginning.”Wits have managed to keep most of last season’s title-challenging squad together and their signings are intimidating‚ especially at forward.Sibusiso Vilakazi might have been lost to Mamelodi Sundowns.But the addition of Gabadinho Mhango‚ Cuthbert Malajila‚ Mogakolodi Ngele and Knox Mutizwa to a frontline that already boasts James Keene‚ Daine Klate and Elias Pelembe gives Hunt a goal-scoring department that is frightening in its potential.Former Bafana Bafana centre-back Bongani Khumalo said Wits are relishing having a go at Chiefs.“We are really excited that our first game of the season is at home‚ and the advantage we have is that we know our pitch‚ we know it very well‚” he said.Komphela will be looking for his new signings such as Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ Lewis Macha and Mitchell Katsvairo to show early signs of having blended well with established stars...

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