Johannesburg – Coach Stuart Baxter has urged log leaders Kaizer Chiefs to use their clash against University of Pretoria on Saturday to regain momentum and confidence ahead of next week's MTN8 final.
After a week's break, the Premiership recommences with a full round of enticing fixtures this weekend, where all 16 teams will be back in action.
“I told the players that the best preparation for a cup final is a good performance against Tuks. If we don't play well and don’t continue our confident run against Tuks, then the players will begin to doubt themselves ahead of the final,” Baxter said.
“I want the lads to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible. It’s a very difficult game and of course a vital game for us.”
The former Bafana Bafana mentor said it was of the utmost importance that the team focused on the game at hand rather than be consumed by the final on September 20 against arch rivals Orlando Pirates.
“The best way is to shut out the final completely from our minds and put on a good show against Tuks then be sure we go into the final with a positive mindset.”
After a perfect start to the season, winning all five league games, Baxter said he was anxious about whether the team would pick up from where they left off before the international break.
“Of course it is a concern. We go into the breaks and hope that everybody will recuperate properly but the mental aspect of it is that they have got to get back and do the job.”
Heading into his first game in charge since taking over the reins at SuperSport United, coach Gordon Igesund said it was a blessing in disguise he was hired at the beginning of the international break and had time to prepare his charges.
“I think it’s great for me that I have a week-and-a-half or so to prepare the players and teach them my philosophy. I don’t plan to come in and make wholesale changes I plan to work with the players that I have in the squad,” Igesund said.
SuperSport square off against Platinum Stars at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday for their first game since Cavin Johnson was axed.
In other matches on Saturday, Maritzburg United host Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Harry Gwala Stadium, Polokwane City take on AmaZulu at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Pirates are up against Wits at the Orlando Stadium and Ajax Cape Town play host to Free State Stars at the Athlone Stadium.
On Sunday, Moroka Swallows play Chippa United at Dobsonville Stadium and Bloemfontein Celtic host Mamelodi Sundowns. – Sapa