4 things spotted as Kaizer Chiefs prepare for mouth-watering Sundowns clash

Mthokozisi Dube19 January 2023Last Updated: 23 January 2023

2 minutes read

Kaizer Chiefs in training — Pic: Kaizer Chiefs ©

Smarting from an embarrassing 4-0 defeat, Kaizer Chiefs stepped up their preparations for the mouth-watering DStv Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Sundowns clash couldn’t have come at a worse time, after two defeats and a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of AmaZulu.

Funny enough, the 4-0 humiliation was not new to Amakhosi having lost by a similar scoreline early in the season.

The team that handed them that 4-0 hammering is their next opponent and they haven’t dropped points in 10 successive matches.

Nonetheless, the game must roar to life at 8pm on 21 January at the FNB Stadium.

Here’s what we spotted at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in naturena.

Arthur Zwane’s body language

The Kaizer Chiefs is not the bullish ‘10111’ the media got to know immediately after his appointment.
After a bit of a battering by Usuthu, he looked a little diffident.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane addressing the media ahead of the Mamelodi Sundowns encounter — Arthur Zwane

Anyone who followed his address would agree he looks a bit sapped of the confidence he exuded in the early stages of his tenure.

Perhaps things haven’t gone as anticipated, and pressure is mounting with each passing game.

Sticking to young guns

As players arrived for their training session, one could not help but notice the many greenhorns in this Amakhosi side.

Zwane has made it clear he will stick to them despite the mistakes they are bound to make. Besides Wandile Duba, Mdu Shabalala and Samkelo Zwane, who have all featured in recent games, there was two other new faces.

Aiden McCarthy, a 19-year-old defender, and Bontle Molefe were also part of the session. McCarthy is son to former Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy while Molefe is an upcoming goalkeeper aged 20.

The two would be encouraged by Zwane’s faith in unpolished academy gems. It remains to be seen when the two will get their opportunities.

No sign of a new signing at Kaizer Chiefs

In recent days, there has been talk that Congolese forward Christian Saile is on his way to Naturena. Saile was on trial in December and if there was a game to unleash him, if his transfer is really happening, it would be the game against Sundowns.

However, the talented forward was nowhere to be seen at Naturena despite being given the blessing by Zambia side Nchanga Rangers.

Perhaps the wait still goes on with just under two weeks before the transfer window closes.

Kaizer Motaung Jr upbeat ahead of Sundowns clash

Kaizer Jr was all smiles as Zwane got his charges ready for the big clash. In fact, the Chiefs sporting director, in jest, told FARPost he’d only be okay on Sunday morning after collecting maximum points from the defending champions.

“Don’t ask me how I am, I’ll only be okay on Sunday,” he said as we exchanged pleasantries. Since taking over as sporting director, Junior has been more involved with the team.