Sunday Tribune

Bring it home, why not win Cup, says Chiefs’ 10111

HERMAN GIBBS

WITH the Dstv Premiership title seemingly out of their reach, Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Arthur Zwane has identified the Nedbank Cup as the club’s last chance for glory this season.

After Chiefs were drawn to play TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup first round, Zwane said he was cherishing the prospect of reaching the final and winning the trophy.

“We are a team that needs to grind out results,” said Zwane. “We are hoping and wishing that we go as far as we want to in the (Nedbank) cup and be in the final, and then bring it home. Why not win it – that is our aim.

“We’ll take it one game at a time.” Zwane, during his heyday popularly known as ‘10111’, is also not ruling out Chiefs winning the league.

It is an ideal that sounds farfetched, however, since log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns have 16 points

more at the halfway point in the Premiership.

Two decades ago, Zwane was a stand-out player for Chiefs when the club staged the famous ‘Vat Alles’ campaign in 2001. That year the club won five trophies, including the Mandela Cup (now CAF Confederation Cup).

“Yes, it looks like maybe it is out of reach, but we still believe anything can happen,” said Zwane. “As you know, it’s never over until the fat lady sings.

“We will push (hard) in league games as well in the hope that the results favour us. That way we can be up there when the end of the season comes, competing for the No 1 spot. I think that is the goal for us.”

Galaxy’s new Serbian coach Sean Ramovic has made an impression on Zwane, and he fears that the side will pose a formidable threat, even though they are rock bottom of the Premiership standings. Their Nedbank round 32 clash will be in February, a repeat of the 2018 final.

“We know we are playing a very difficult team,” said Zwane. “Galaxy have a coach who is doing well. You can see they are playing from the back and trying to connect with the midfield and forwards.”

Ramovic said Chiefs, as a team, had a solid backbone and players with strong leadership skills. They are a tough team and Galaxy would enjoy the challenge, he added.

Galaxy used the holiday break to work on endurance and speed. Ramovic said the players also had a few talks so that players could improve their focus on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, Chiefs have finally made a signing in the January window period. Yesterday they signed 15-year-old Doornkop Students FC sensation Mfundo ‘Obrigado’ Vilakazi.

He was one of the players who captured the imagination of fans at the Philly’s games in Tembisa during the festive period.

He will play for Chiefs’ Multichoice Diski Challenge team. In the past, he was part of Chiefs development teams (Under-15 and -17).

SPORT

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2022-01-16T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-16T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytribune.pressreader.com/article/281895891607314

African News Agency