Durban - The stage could hardly be set better for a cracker when inconsistent Kaizer Chiefs face a Golden Arrows side battling a mini-slump at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.
Following recent results these two sides will be almost as desperate for a victory as basement outfit Maritzburg United, who visit Polokwane City tomorrow as part of a full round of midweek action.
Chiefs haven’t won consecutive league matches this season. The defending champions come to Durban following a loss to Platinum Stars and a draw against nemesis Orlando Pirates. In both outings they gave up the lead.
A further conundrum for coach Steve Komphela was the calf injury to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in his first match back after a knee operation last year.
In the home corner Arrows coach Clinton Larsen is pulling his grey hair in frustration at their weak scoring conversion rate. After four goals in two wins to kick off Larsen’s tenure, Arrows suffered a “Cape collapse” in their next three games.
A draw against Ajax Cape Town was followed by a loss to Eastern Cape side Chippa United and a defeat to the Urban Warriors in a return league clash.
Those results, in which Abafana Bes’thende scored once, saw them drop to seventh place, ahead of Free State Stars only by virtue of a better goal difference.
“We will continue to work hard on our finishing as this has been our Achilles heel in recent weeks,” Larsen lamented after Friday’s loss in the Mother City.
One goal from Zambian marksman Mwape Musonda and two from former Chiefs striker Mabhuti Khenyeza are poor returns from players with international experience.
They have been more successful at creating chances for midfielders Kudakwashe Mahachi and Deon Hotto, who will be the main threats against the Amakhosi on Tuesday night. Recent signing from Platinum, attacking midfielder Mahlatse Makudubela, is another who will keep Chiefs’ Willard Katsande busy.
Zimbabwean midfield destroyer Katsande scored a goal and was the Man of the Match in the Soweto derby. Two goals in his last two appearances marks Katsande as a player Arrows will need to shadow for his increasing attacking as much as for his defending.
Komphela’s declaration after the derby that the title is far from won is a fair assessment. Chiefs are fourth, 10 points behind run-away log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who host Chippa United on Tuesday night. Second-placed Black Aces are also in action on Tuesday night, away to Jomo Cosmos.
Fourteen matches are enough for the Brazilians to stumble, like how Bidvest Wits dropped to third following their weekend loss at Bloemfontein Celtic.
However for Komphela’s words to carry weight his team has to show character by taking advantage of Arrows’ slump and recording back to back wins.
It will help too if midfielder George Lebese adds to his five league goals. He’s their top scorer, having fired a double in the 3-1 first round success over Arrows. Katsande is the next best with three strikes.
The challenge for Komphela is to get Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala to hit the target more consistently, especially since he expects Sundowns to slip up sooner or later.
The Mercury