Stars out to spoil Chiefs’ party

Platinum Stars will be going all out to spoil Kaizer Chiefs’ party this weekend when they meet the Absa Premiership champions-elect in Sunday’s top-of-the-log clash (Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm).

Second-placed Stars are the only side to have beaten Chiefs in the league this season, and yesterday their coach Cavin Johnson was adamant they would strive to stop Amakhosi from turning the Premiership race into a procession.

“We definitely want to keep them under pressure, but I think they will win it eventually,” Johnson said.

Chiefs need six more points to clinch their first championship in eight years, but champagne bottles could be popped as early as this weekend if results elsewhere go their way.

Should Orlando Pirates lose to Bidvest Wits on Saturday, Chiefs would go into Sunday’s match against Stars knowing victory would mean they can only be deposed on goal difference, which seems improbable given that they currently have a massive advantage on both Stars and Pirates.

But Dikwena will count on their first-round win over Amakhosi to boost their confidence, which was dented at the weekend when they were held by bottom side Chippa United.

Johnson described that 1-1 draw as a setback, but added he wasn’t too surprised his men failed to win as they were fatigued. “It was our third game in six days, and we did a lot of travelling. We were up against a team who are fighting relegation. They were more determined, under a new coach. So a lot didn’t go well for us.”

He promised a refreshed Stars for Sunday’s match. “We will be fresh because we have the whole week to prepare for this game. I expect a very good game, like in the first round.”

But Johnson, whose team trail Chiefs by six points, maintained Stars shouldn’t be too bothered if they fail to overhaul the leaders.

“We have a five-year plan. We want to win the league in that period. For now we want to build a strong team, with a strong support base. If we finish second we would have done very well.”

Stars will be without Enocent Mkhabela, who is suspended, but the biggest name missing from Sunday’s line-ups is Itumeleng Khune, who is also serving a one-match ban.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter confirmed at the weekend that the untested Brilliant Khuzwayo will make his debut in Khune’s place, and backed the Umlazi-born goalkeeper to deliver. “It’s a massive game for him, but surely he’s been waiting for this chance. He wants to play,” Baxter said of Khuzwayo.

The Briton also dismissed suggestions that Sunday’s encounter is a title decider.

“It is not. If we lose we are still on top. If we draw the status quo remains. If we win, we’ll be in a good position and we’ll look forward to the next match.”

Chiefs have not lost a match since Stars beat them 2-0 in Rustenburg last November and, while not talking about revenge, Baxter said his players would be pumped up for Sunday’s game.

“I don’t want you to be writing that I said we are going there for revenge, but there’s no doubt my players will be having the result from the first leg in mind when the go into this game. It’s a game we want to win for a lot of reasons.”

Fixtures

Today: SuperSport v Maritzburg, Lucas Moripe Stadium, 7.30pm

Friday: Maritzburg v Swallows, Harry Gwala Stadium, 8pm

Saturday: Leopards v Tuks, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm; FS Stars v AmaZulu, Goble Park, 3pm; Wits v Pirates, Mbombela, 6pm; Sundowns v Celtic, Pilditch, 8.15pm; Chippa v Ajax, Phillipi

Sunday: Chiefs v P Stars, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm; Arrows v SuperSport, Princess Magogo Stadium, 3pm

P W D L F A Pts

Chiefs 26 15 10 1 46 16 55

Platinum 26 15 4 7 42 25 49

Pirates 25 12 10 3 32 17 46

Wits 26 9 10 7 27 27 37

SuperSport 24 7 14 3 27 20 35

Maritzburg 25 8 10 7 27 25 34

Free State 26 8 10 8 24 25 34

Celtic 26 9 7 10 26 29 33

Pretoria 26 6 15 5 27 24 33

Swallows 26 9 5 12 35 39 32