Johannesburg – Stuart Baxter believes Kaizer Chiefs must avoid the pitfalls of a kind of second game syndrome, if they are to get past Bloemfontein Celtic in their Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash on Saturday night.
Chiefs beat Celtic 3-0 in Mangaung in the Absa Premiership on March 31, but as the Amakhosi coach pointed out, this does not necessarily mean they will achieve a similar result just a couple of weeks later.
Baxter alluded to two meetings Chiefs had with Bidvest Wits earlier this season, a 3-1 victory in the league followed by a 3-2 defeat in the Telkom Knockout.
“We had the same situation when we played Wits,” said the Chiefs coach yesterday. “We beat them the first time and played well, and the second time it felt more difficult. I don’t know if it is something mental about playing the same opponent.
“It can be difficult in that way. It is always difficult going to Bloemfontein. We have issues with injuries and we know it will be a challenge so we will have to make sure we are really up for it.”
Chiefs’ situation has certainly been made trickier by their current list of injuries and suspensions. Morgan Gould is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Eric Matoho is not going to make it back in time to face his old club, and Reneilwe Letsholonyane is suspended after being sent off against Golden Arrows on Saturday.
“Morgan, ‘Yeye’ and ‘Tower’ are three big players, you don’t want any more injuries than that,” said Baxter.
“If you took three internationals out of any team in Europe you are looking at considerably weakening them. But the players that have pitched have stood up and been counted … Lucky (Baloyi) or Siya (Nkosi) come in and can do a job. Lincoln (Zvasiya) came in (against Arrows) and did okay.”
With both Gould and Matoho out, however, Baxter has Zvasiya and Tefu Mashamaite as his only fit central defenders, and will have to play a back four against Celtic, after preferring five at the back in the league encounter.
“I can’t play three central defenders, I don’t have three central defenders!” said Baxter. “We will play a normal back four. Once Tower (Matoho) comes back we can play Lincoln in a back three and we will do a bit of work on that.”
Baxter could not provide a definitive answer on when Matoho would return.
“Tower has responded quite well to his first treatment,” he said.
“But that doesn’t guarantee us anything. He is definitely out for our first game, and then we will see how quickly we can get him back after that.”
Letsholonyane’s absence will also be a blow to the Chiefs midfield, following his harsh red card against Arrows. Baxter gave his support for a review process to be implemented over decisions like that made by Lwandile Mfiki on Saturday.
“If you slow it down you see Yeye treads on his (Tshepo Lipoko’s) foot. It’s a clumsy challenge and it’s a yellow card, but I don’t think it’s a red card. I think at least if there is an apparatus where we have a chance to appeal – that is the way they have it in other countries – it is a fairer process,” added the Chiefs coach. – The Star