Chiefs chase first home win as Middendorp returns to FNB

Kaizer Chiefs will be aiming to register their first home win of the 2020-21 DStv Premiership season when they welcome Maritzburg United to FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 5pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

Chiefs (13th) have gone six league matches without a win after they were held 1-1 at home by Bloemfontein Celtic on 19 December, with Anthony Akumu Agay scoring their solitary goal on the day.

The Amakhosi have yet to win at home in the league this season, having recorded three draws and one loss from four home matches.

The Soweto giants though did manage a 1-0 victory over Primero de Agosto in their most recent match, with success in Angola booking their place in the Caf Champions League group stages for the very first time.

Chiefs attacker Lazarous Kambole feels that the win could be just the boost they need as last season's runners-up aim to climb their way up the Premiership standings.

"We haven't been doing well but we fought in Angola and this result has given us confidence ahead of the next game," said Kambole. "It is not going to be easy, of course it will be different from the Champions League.

"The Premiership has its own style of play, but we are soldiers and we are ready. We just need to continue working extra hard."

Maritzburg themselves crossed an important bridge in build-up to this weekend's fixture, having recorded their first win of the campaign and with former Chiefs boss Ernest Middendorp at the Team of Choice helm, the game will be of even more significance.

"Coming from the win, they [Maritzburg] will be motivated so it won't be easy," Kambole added. "We just need to go all out. It will be an emotional game but business is business so we will talk on the pitch."

Maritzburg (15th) go into the match on the back of a 2-1 home win over Bloemfontein Celtic on 2 January, thanks to a brace from Thabiso Kutumela.

The victory was United’s first in the league this season and broke a 14-game drought in the Premiership dating back to the 2019-20 season.

The Team of Choice, however, has suffered defeats in all four of their away matches this campaign. Their last result on the road was a 2-0 loss at Swallows FC in mid-December.

"The entire institution of Maritzburg United, stakeholders, fans and supporters were waiting for the first win. It was three points that were needed. It’s the beginning of the year and the first game which presented us with an opportunity to get connected to the rest of the pack." said Middendorp, who coached Chiefs to a runners-up finish last season.

Former Amakhosi midfielder Keagan Buchanan echoed his coach's thoughts and the Maritzburg United midfield anchor now has his sights firmly set on Chiefs, knowing victory would move them above their hosts.

"Big big win for us, for our confidence and our morale. Just the boost we need coming into a difficult schedule. We just need to get as many points as possible and to start the year off with three points is the best way to do it.

"The boys won't need any motivation, we are going there [to Chiefs] to win. We will do our best on Saturday to achieve just that," said Buchanan.

In head-to-head stats, Maritzburg and Chiefs have met in 28 league matches since the 2005-06 campaign.

The Amakhosi have claimed 13 wins compared to six for the Team of Choice, while nine matches have been drawn. The Soweto side has recorded nine wins, two draws and three defeats in 14 home matches in the rivalry.

Maritzburg took four points off Chiefs in the teams’ league meetings last season, with a 1-1 draw at Harry Gwala Stadium in December 2019 and a 2-1 win – thanks to a brace from Daylon Claasen – at FNB Stadium in February 2020.

PLAYERST O WATCH

Kaizer Chiefs

Samir Nurkovic: The Serbian's return will come as a huge boost to the Amakhosi as they aim to get their season on track. Nurkovic scored 13 goals and assisted a further six in 26 league matches last season, playing an important part in the club's title challenge. Chiefs have only scored seven times this season and will need to be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to escape from the position they currently find themselves in.

Daniel Akpeyi: Gavin Hunt has shuffled between the Nigeria international and Itumeleng Khune this season, but having now featured in the club's three most recent matches, it is likely that Akpeyi has established himself as the first choice for the time being. Costly defensive errors have played a huge role in Chiefs' poor start to the season and the Soweto club now need stability in defence, starting in goal, if they are to end their woes.

Maritzburg United

Thabiso Kutumela: The Maritzburg forward finally broke his scoring drought with a brace as the club started 2021 with a much-needed win. The goals would've served as a huge confidence boost not only to Kutumela, but those alongside him as well and Middendorp will be looking to him to provide the required cutting edge. Kutumela has already scored at FNB Stadium this season, finding the back of the net in Maritzburg's 2-1 MTN8 defeat to Chiefs in October.

Clayton Daniels: It came as a surprise to many that Daniels was let go by SuperSport United after having formed such an integral part of their team in recent seasons. Matsatsantsa's loss is Maritzburg's gain and the experienced defender wasted little time in getting stuck in, playing the full 90 in the club's win over Celtic. His know-how will be key to Maritzburg's cause.