Kaizer Chiefs warned by bullish Kruger United who insist PSL date is ‘perfect situation’

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Kaizer Chiefs warned by bullish Kruger United who insist PSL date is ‘perfect situation’
Fernando Da Cruz, Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Newly promoted Premier Soccer League outfit Kruger United will host Kaizer Chiefs in the South African top-flight fixture to be staged at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

This will be a massive night for the club and the supporters against one of the top teams in the country. Coach Abram Mongoya, who masterminded the team’s promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, is planning an upset.

While other teams would have loved to have a different opponent for an opener, it is not the same for the newbies who feel the Glamour Boys have not settled.

The Soweto giants opted to part ways with co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, appointing Fernando Da Cruz to steer the team forward.

I would have chosen Chiefs

“A big yes [I would have chosen to play Chiefs first up] because it has a lot of advantages when we looked at it,” Mongoya told the media in a presser.

“It’s an exciting fixture for the supporters; they’ve been longing for something like this. I think they’ve only had TS Galaxy in our province [Mpumalanga] to bring in [top-flight] football. But it is also a good opportunity for the boys to showcase their talent. I think it is a good platform.

“Getting a Chiefs side at a time where the coaches have not yet settled is a sort of perfect situation. Hopefully it goes our way. We are going to try and impose our game as much as we can against Chiefs and test ourselves in the big league now.

“We studied their past three games, and we’ve seen how they structure and restructure the team to try and change shapes. You don’t know how they are going to start or who they are going to play,” he added.

Players want to impress

Kruger United players have, however, been warned that the Glamour Boys will be keen on impressing their new technical team under the leadership of Da Cruz.

“The biggest challenge is that all the players also want to please the new coach,” Mongoya continued.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz and his players.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz and his players. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“There’s a new coach effect. Everybody wants to be a starter. Any player who was not given an opportunity last season by any previous coach wants to make sure they are starters now, so they are going to do more.

“That’s why I’m saying it’s also a big challenge. It’s not going to be an easy game—and there won’t be any easy games for Kruger United in the Premiership.”

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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