Downs, Chiefs kick off new season
The match will kickoff a few hours after the conclusion of the Super Rugby final between the Emirates Lions and the Crusaders
A top-class fixture – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Kaizer Chiefs – will kick off the ABSA Premiership season at the Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
The match will start at 15:00, a few hours after the conclusion of the Super Rugby final between the Emirates Lions and the Crusaders in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Downs and Chiefs meet for the second time in as many weeks having played a pre-season friendly the Pretoria side won 2-1 to claim the Shell Helix Ultra cup.
This and that Sundowns have already played a few games in the CAF Champions League, put them a favourites to win Saturday’s game.
Sundowns beat AS Togo-Port 2-1 last Friday to keep their hopes of a place in the semifinals of the continental competition alive.
But coach Pitso Mosimane has expressed concerned about his defence conceding late goals against Horoya and Togo Port in the Champions League.
“When we played against Horoya in the early stages, we were winning 2-1 and they scored in the last six minutes. Against Chiefs and Togo Port there were few minutes left in the game and we conceded. This shows that we lose concentration at critical times‚” said Mosimane.
But despite losing their star striker Percy Tau, Downs have enough up front to terrorise any PSL team, however, to compensate for a leaky defence.
“We dropped the tempo in the second half against Togo Port but you must remember that it is week four after pre-season while they have been playing right through. We were managing the game because that is important.”
Mosimane said his team needed to take control of the game instead of just building attack after attack.
On the other hand, Chiefs have continued to struggle in the pre-season. The Soweto giants lost 1-0 to Cape Town City at the weekend.
Chiefs new coach Giovanni Solinas, who is yet to take charge of the Glamour Boys’ official match, could win the backing of the supporters if he guided his troops to victory in his first assignment and against the defending champions.
The club parted ways with coach Steve Khompela last season following a run of poor results.
In another game on Saturday, Supersport United visit Cape Town City having finished last season poorly.
A week later, they travel to Orlando Stadium for their meeting MTN8 with Orlando Pirates.
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