No time for congratulations, yet

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 06, Stuart Baxter head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on October 06, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Photo by Luke Walker / Gallo Images

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 06, Stuart Baxter head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on October 06, 2012 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Photo by Luke Walker / Gallo Images

Published Apr 30, 2013

Share

Johannesburg - Stuart Baxter would still not accept congratulatory messages even as Kaizer Chiefs seem to have eliminated one team from the title race after their draw with second-placed Platinum Stars on Sunday.

Stars coach Cavin Johnson threw in the towel after his team could not beat Chiefs for a second time this season, telling Baxter in the post-match press conference: “Congratulations on winning the league. You deserve it.” Baxter merely giggled. “He’s again trying to play mind games,” said the Chiefs trainer.

Having led the standings all season, Chiefs could indeed be champions on Wednesday if results elsewhere go their way. First, they need Orlando Pirates to lose to Chippa United on Tuesday (which seems unlikely given that Chippa are without an away victory all season) and then they must beat Ajax Cape Town. Two hours later, Stars take on Maritzburg United and should they not win that game, Chiefs would be champions.

That’s a lot of permutations which, as Baxter fears, maynot go Chiefs’ way, hence his reluctance to accept premature acclaim.

“We said it about five games ago, that our remaining games will be like cup finals. We now have three to go, and all the teams we have played recently had something to play for. It will be the same with Ajax (tomorrow),” Baxter said.

Ajax are still mired in relegation trouble and desperately need to avoid defeat against Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium. A draw with bottom side Chippa at the weekend lifted the Urban Warriors to 14th place, but Baxter is aware of the difficulty his men will face against a team facing such serious danger.

The Briton, however, backed his men to hold their nerve and see Chiefs to their first title since 2005. As it stands, they need five more points to wrap it up.

“We have been at the top from the first kick of the ball. Yes there’s pressure, but if you’re part of a top team, it’s always going to be the case. The players are used to that now. No matter who we play, there are huge expectations and the players have done tremendously well to remain composed in this kind of pressure. We will approach the Ajax game in similar vein and hope they cope.”

Baxter confirmed he’ll shuffle his line-up around after making just one forced change - when Itumeleng Khune’s place was taken by Brilliant Khuzwayo - in Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

Key midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane will almost certainly start, while striker Lehlohonolo Majoro could also get a run.

Stars, meanwhile, were pleased to be the only team to get four points off Chiefs this season. “We can’t be too disappointed to have come here for a point. An away game against Chiefs is always difficult. You’re playing in front of thousands of fans,” said Stars coach Johnson, who was impressed by the 35 000-strong turnout at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Dikwena can only finish with a maximum of 59 points, a target Chiefs can reach with just one victory, which perhaps explains why Baxter was excited to hold off Stars.

“I’m disappointed we couldn’t get the three points but when we look at the table, we can still be happy. You can’t say you’re not happy if you don’t beat a team that’s second on the log.”

 

Khuzwayo endeared himself to hordes of Amakhosi fans Sunday with a brilliant performance keeping a cleansheet in his first official match for the club.

“I was not nervous at all,” Umlazi-born Khuzwayo said about his debut.

 

Khune had volunteered advice to ready Khuzwayo for what turned out to be a great first outing. “Itu was very supportive. From the time he was on three yellow cards, he told me to start preparing myself as anything could happen. Even in the week leading up to Sunday’s game, he was always giving me advice on how to cope. But that goes to everyone in the team ... I really got good support.”

 

Both Baxter and Johnson were impressed too. “Credit must go to their keeper (Khuz-wayo). I thought that (goalkeeping) aspect was going to be the turning point but he did very well,” said Johnson.

Baxter lauded Khuzwayo for replacing Khune with aplomb, adding his performance was further proof of immense depth at Naturena. “Our goalkeeper trainer Rainer (Dinkelacker) refused to call him by his name, Brilliant, saying he hadn’t see his brilliance yet. I hope he’s softened up after this. Brilliant made the saves he had to make. He was not dramatic and I’m very pleased with his performance.”

The Star

Related Topics: