Siphiwe Tshabalala during the Kaizer Chiefs press conference at PSL Offices. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images)
Amakhosi will host AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in a TKO match on Saturday night. Chiefs’ decision to take the match to Durban, where Usuthu are based, has been met with discontent in some quarters.
The last time Amakhosi played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, things ended badly for them as they lost 2-1 to Baroka FC in a league game, amid ugly scenes of supporters throwing missiles and calling for Steve Komphela’s head.
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“Durban is our home away from home. For them (AmaZulu) they might take it as a good thing that they don’t have to travel. But for us it’s one of those games where we have to get there and do our business. Things didn’t go well for us the last time we were there and this is a chance to make things right,” said Chiefs’ 33-year-old midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala.
“We have played in Durban before and we adapted and played very well. I don’t see us struggling.”
The past two matches where Amakhosi threw Mamelodi Sundowns off the curb and also held Orlando Pirates to a draw have somehow cooled the pressure on Komphela and given him a bit of a clean slate to start from. But should Usuthu upset the Glamour Boys and knock them out of this second cup competition, it could be back to square one.
“When things don’t go well and the team is not winning, the coach is first to shoulder the blame. I think that is a bit unfair. We also have to take some of it.
“We have to respond by winning games which is the only way we can protect one another in the team,” said Tshabalala, who was yesterday also named in a Bafana Bafana squad for the first time since 2014.
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