Hunt spurs Kaizer Chiefs' youngsters on to shine in derby against Pirates

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has called on young players in his team grab the opportunity in the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Amakhosi visit the Buccaneers for their much-anticipated DStv Premiership encounter looking to stretch their unbeaten run to six games after a recent impressive run of three wins and two draws.

SA Under-23 internationals Happy Mashiane and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo‚ who have impressed in recent games‚ are almost certainties to start against Pirates and Hunt may also give an opportunity to Darrel Matsheke and Njabulo Blom‚ other young players emerging at Naturena.

Chiefs will look to Daniel Cardoso‚ Lebogang Manyama‚ Kearyn Baccus and Bernard Park as senior heads in the battle against Bucs impressive array of stars that includes Thabang Monare‚ Ben Motshwari‚ Fortune Makaringe‚ Deon Hotto and Thembinkosi Lorch.

“For these young players who are coming in‚ they have been given a chance and now they have to hold on to those chances‚” said Hunt. “It’s important that we play properly and improve with or without the ball and that is our own game process.”

Hunt said that Chiefs’ preparations will remain the same as they have been for any other match in the season despite the magnitude of the match.

“We have to treat it like any other game. Obviously there is expectation around the place but we have to try to not do anything out of the ordinary‚” the coach said.

“As I said‚ hopefully we can improve from the last time we played and that’s all we can do. We have to try, be positive and play in a way that I think we can get a positive result.”

Looking at Pirates‚ who have been inconsistent recently with two wins and draws and one loss over their past five matches‚ Hunt said he is expecting the Buccaneers to put out a strong line-up for the derby.

“They have had a great start to the season and they have won a trophy already. They have made some very good signings — some of those players I know very well and they have come in and fitted very well. They have certainly taken the team to another level‚ that’s for sure‚” Hunt admitted of the star-studded squad available to Bucs counterpart Josef Zinnbauer.

“What’s going on there I don’t really know because I have tried to concentrate on what we do. We have had our own problems but they certainly have a lot of options there. They will still put up a very good team out because they have a lot of options.”