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Wounded Chiefs out to clip Swallows' wings

football01 March 2024 14:11| © Backpage TXT
By:BackpageTXT
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Ntsako Makhubela & Yusuf Maart © Backpage Pix

Kaizer Chiefs will battle it out with their Soweto rivals, Moroka Swallows in Saturday evening's DStv Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium.

Kick-off is at 5:45 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Amakhosi are licking their wounds after losing 5-4 on penalties to second-tier club Milford FC in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 following a 0-0 draw last weekend. The Glamour Boys are now winless in their last three matches.

Chiefs are placed sixth on the DStv Premiership standings - two points behind fourth-placed Stellenbosch FC and three points above 11th-placed AmaZulu FC as Amakhosi look to cement their spot in the top eight with a win over Swallows.

Meanwhile, Swallows claimed a morale-boosting 3-1 win over second-tier club Platinum City Rovers in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 after a 0-0 draw last weekend. The victory snapped the Dube Birds' eight-match winless run.

Amaswaiswai are placed 13th on the DStv Premiership standings - six points above the relegation zone and a victory over Chiefs would see Swallows move further away from the relegation zone.

TEAM NEWS

Chiefs are set to welcome back Sifiso Hlanti from suspension, but Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and George Matlou will miss the game against Swallows due to their respective injuries.

Swallows, on the other hand, have no suspension worries and the club is yet to report injuries in their camp coming into this Soweto Derby encounter.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Mfundo Vilakazi

“The game against Swallows is a must-win game for us because the supporters are not happy at the moment, so I think we have to go out and win to make them happy," Vilakazi said.

"We are training hard and we are determined to play well. Swallows have had their challenges recently. They have quite a number of new players and coaching staff.

"So I don’t know how they are preparing for this game. I think we must take advantage of this situation and beat them on Saturday.”

Moroka Swallows coach Musa Nyatama

"It is not easy playing against teams from the lower divisions. But I am happy for the boys for putting up a fight [against Rovers], even though we won on penalties," Nyatama said.

"I am not so happy with some of the things that we could have done better in the match, but it is part of the game, we are through to the next round.

"Let's see, we are focusing on the league now."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pule Mmodi: The pacey winger is Chiefs' main source of goals in the league this season having netted four times. Mmodi will be determined to add to his tally and propel Amakhosi to a much-needed victory.

Frank Mhango: The experienced attacker is now Swallows' main forward following Tshegofatso Mabasa's return to Orlando Pirates. Mhango has what it takes to inspire Amaswaiswai to a win over Amakhosi.

Head-to-Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2013/14 Swallows 0-2 Chiefs Nkhatha, Musona

2014/15 Chiefs 1-1 Swallows Letsholonyane; Baloyi

2014/15 Swallows 0-3 Chiefs Cohen (og), Lebese, Parker

2020/21 Swallows 1-0 Chiefs Mhlongo

2020/21 Chiefs 1-1 Swallows Castro; Malinga

2021/22 Swallows 1-3 Chiefs Mokoena; Dolly, Billiat 2

2021/22 Chiefs 2-2 Swallows Parker, Nange; Solomons 2 (2 pens)

2022/23 Swallows 1-2 Chiefs Isaacs; Bimenyimana, Dolly

2022/23 Chiefs 1-2 Swallows Saile; Damons, Sam

2023/24 Swallows 0-1 Chiefs Saile

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 34 17 11 6 53 30

Swallows 34 7 7 20 22 47

Away

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 34 20 7 7 47 22

Swallows 34 6 11 17 30 53

Total

P W D L GF GA

Chiefs 68 37 18 13 100 52

Swallows 68 13 18 37 52 100

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