Do-or-die for Chiefs and SuperSport at Mbombela tonight
The fixture is expected to be an entertaining one as both Chiefs and United still harbour hopes of winning the championships.
On December 10, 2018, Kaizer Chiefs announced German-born Ernst Middendorp as their head coach.
Two days later, December 12, he faced his first assignment as Amakhosi mentor against SuperSport United at Mbombela Stadium.
Middendorp, which won the Absa Cup and SAA Supa8 when he first steered Amakhosi from July 2005 to March 2007, managed to guide his side to a 1-0 victory on his first game back in charge of Chiefs.
George Maluleka scored that all-important goal that separated the two sides.
That spectacular strike by Mido, as Maluleka is nicknamed, went on and won him best goal for December.
And today, Middendorp will return to Mbombela to face the very same Matsatsantsa a Pitori in another Absa Premiership fixture.
Kick-off is at 20:00.
The fixture is expected to be an entertaining one as both Chiefs and United still harbour hopes of winning the championships.
Amakhosi approach this encounter at the back of winning two successive games. They beat Highlands Park 3-2 at Moses Mabhida Stadium and Maritzburg United 1-0 at FNB Stadium.
Read More: Feast of soccer action continues at Mbombela as SuperSport host Maritzburg
Keitano Tembo-led United on the other hand are flying high having recorded five wins in their last six games. Bidvest Wits on loan striker, Mxolisi Machupu has regained his form as he has scored four goals in the five games he has played for the Pretoria side so far.
The former Jomo Cosmos striker, Machupu, scored the only goal for United in the dying minutes when they beat Free State Stars 1-0 over the weekend.
To make the encounter more interesting is the fact that a mere three points separate the two sides.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori are perched in fifth place with 38 points after 23 games while Amakhosi are on seventh spot with 35 points after the same number of games.
The last time the two sides clashed at the imposing Mbombela, a turn-out of 14 808 fans came to witness that encounter though it was a midweek, Wednesday, event.
Both sides have since bolstered their squad after that encounter with United adding former Chiefs left winger, George Lebese, on loan from Sundowns and Machupu.
The Glamour Boys were also relatively quiet in the January transfer window, snapping up just two new players as they looked to improve their chances of a title push.
With the acquisition of both Reeve Frosler, a junior international defender from Bidvest Wits and Nigerian goal minder, Daniel Akpeyi, signed from Chippa United, Chiefs have addressed two positions in which they currently have issues.
With this encounter taking place today on a Friday evening with most people not reporting for duty tomorrow, spiced with the fact that a winner will close the gap between them and the log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, a larger crowd is expected.
Tickets for the encounter are still available at Computicket.
According to Mthuthuzeli Qamba of Mbombela Stadium management, soccer lovers can also purchase their tickets at the stadium ticket office.
“Tickets cost R50 for adults and R20 for children between the ages of two and 16. Parking will be free at the stadium for the early birds and a full park-and-ride from the Government Complex will be functional,” confirmed Qamba.
