Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Mandla Masango has explained why he believes Amakhosi are the underdogs in the Carling Knockout Cup ahead of their quarter-final tie against Siwelele FC on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys host Siwelele at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 CAT.
The match was originally scheduled to kick off at 15:00, but was moved to 18:00 to accommodate Sunday’s CAF Super Cup clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Algeria’s USM Alger at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Fernando Da Cruz’s men come into the fixture seeking immediate redemption after suffering a 2-1 defeat to rivals Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby last weekend.
Securing a place in the semi-finals would offer much-needed relief and restore belief among the club’s faithful. Having already missed out on the MTN8 and CAF Confederation Cup, their stuttering league form has seen them drop down the standings in recent weeks.
‘THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE’: MASANGO BACKS CHIEFS TO REACH CARLING CUP SEMIS
Speaking exclusively to FARPost, Masango outlined why the pressure is off Chiefs compared to the country’s current pacesetters, Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates.
“Actually, I think Chiefs will go all the way [to the semi-finals] because they have nothing to lose at this current moment. They are more like underdogs, even though they are a big club,” Masango said.
“They are not in the same boat as the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, because these two clubs are performing extremely well. Pirates are the defending champions of the Carling Knockout Cup as well as the league. So, the pressure is not on Chiefs this time around.
“They just need to be more consistent, go all out, and bury Siwelele. I think they will be able to make it to the semis on Sunday,” he added.
Chiefs and Siwelele meet for the second time this season, with Amakhosi having won their league encounter 3-2 in September.
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