Kaizer Chiefs will be determined to end their four-game winless run in the DStv Premiership when they welcome Marumo Gallants to the FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Glamour Boys are looking to bounce back after they played out to their fourth consecutive defeat in the league following their 2-1 defeat to Cape Town City at the FNB Stadium on Saturday after conceding goals Craig Martin and Terrence Mashego, while Dumisani Zuma’s 83rd minute goal proved to be a consolation.
The defeat leaves Amakhosi in fifth place on the league standings with 39 points from 26 matches – level on points with Stellenbosch FC in sixth position on the table.
Marumo Gallants will enter this fixture with a bit of confidence after they booked their place in the finals of the Nedbank Cup following their narrow 1-0 win over Tshakhuma FC at the Thohoyandou Stadium this past Friday courtesy of an own goal by Luvolwethu Mpeta.
Gallants are currently placed 11th on the log with 31 points from 26 matches – level on points with Sekhukhune United, who are in 10th place with a superior goal difference.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane says: “The boys are looking forward to the game. We’ve not been getting the results, but the energy levels look super. We just hope they can take the same energy into the game and give us a positive result.
“We are playing against a possession-based team, who want to keep the ball and wait for the right moment before they attack and we have to guard against that.
“They make you to sleep and once you drop your guard or slow down, they play that forward pass very quickly. They’re very comfortable on the ball. We will be ready for that and we will give them something to think about when we are in possession of the ball.
“We will make sure we get into the right spaces and take the right options as well, and then punish them when we create those goalscoring opportunities.”
In head-to-head stats between the two teams, Amakhosi have been the dominant side, having claimed two wins out of three games against Gallants, while the most recent game at the Thohoyandou Stadium ended in a goalless draw.
Zwane will have to bring some changes from his side’s defeat to City as Cole Alexander, Daniel Cardoso, Phathutshedzo Nange, Reeve Frosler and Siyabonga Ngezana are one yellow card away from serving a match suspension.
Dan Malesela will only have to ponder on whether or not to play Joseph Molangoane, who is also one yellow card away from a match suspension.
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Dumisani Zuma has already started to show glimpses of his old self since returning from a long-term injury after he scored Amakhosi’s only goal in their defeat to the Citizens over the weekend.
Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo will be looking to end his four-game goal drought when he comes up against Chiefs, having managed to find the back of the net six times in his last eight league matches.
Form Guide:
Kaizer Chiefs Form:
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Marumo Gallants Form:
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