Wounded Chiefs wary of fired-up Pirates ahead of all-important derby

Chiefs have a four-point lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of Saturday’s game at FNB Stadium, while in-form Pirates are in third place, six points behind Amakhosi.

Ahead of the derby, Chiefs’ form has tailed off somewhat while Pirates have regained momentum following the appointment of Józef Zinnbauer as coach in December.

Chiefs midfielder Lebogang Manyama says that despite losing two consecutive games, the players are not worried about a fired-up Buccaneer side.

“We are not surprised because of the squad that they have, players they have and they are probably where a team like them is supposed to be. We are not really worried about them, it’s all about we doing our job and obviously making sure that we stop all their strength and try to capitalize on their weaknesses. We are not really thinking about how good they could really be of which we know they can be devastatingly good as a team.”

Amakhosi  coach Ernst Middendorp says that despite the team’s relative poor form, the players will be focused on putting in a performance on Saturday.

“We highlighted again and again…and we are very critical towards our own performance. I am going more on our performance on our side and preparing the game against Orlando Pirates.

“We are consistent on our position and as a club. Kaizer Chiefs is not used to it where we are at the moment, since five years, and they don’t know how it is to be on top of the table and this is something that has to be recognised,” says Middendorp.

Pirates skipper Happy Jele also believes there is a lot to play for ahead of the historic derby.

“There is a lot that we need to play for this time, and we want to get our momentum going. We didn’t start well in the season and we want to push hard for that. I think we are professional enough on how to take care of ourselves and we prepared very well.  

“As a player, you want to win everything… at the beginning of the season we were sloppy and now we on our feet back, we just taking game by game and all we need is three points.”

Pirates’ German coach Zinnbauer, who has seen the team gain momentum since his arrival, has rubbished talk of the title.

“The focus is for us is not the title. The focus is for the team to prepare or to improve for the next season and I think Sundowns and Wits have more chance than us.”

It will be the first time in the history of the derby that both teams will be coached by a German.