We are rejuvenated

We are rejuvenated – Komphela

“The Fifa-break break got us rejuvenated,” comments Komphela. “We had an opportunity to manage the team after having a bit of fixture congestion before the break.”

A draw against Bidvest Wits, a win at Maritzburg United, another draw with Golden Arrows before a disappointing loss against Baroka FC. These four matches were played in the space of fourteen days before the break.

“We corrected the areas that needed attention,” Komphela remarks about Amakhosi’s form guide.

Chiefs will take on Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership fixture at Pretoria’s Loftus Stadium on Tuesday night.

“We fell short in set-plays in those matches,” the Kaizer Chiefs coach observes. “We also want to improve on keeping the shape as well as improving the conversion rate. We worked on all that and I thought we sampled some tactics successfully in the Macufe Cup friendly.”

Komphela took the Glamour Boys through their paces in their final preparation on Monday, before getting on the N1 North towards the capital city. Loftus Versfeld waits in anticipation.

“We rested some legs,” continues Komphela. “We are still running low on the availability of some players, especially at the back. Kgotso Moleko is a new casualty. We will be a bit thin in defence, but we will devise a strategy to deal with that.”

In the corresponding fixture last season, the Brazilians bagged the three points with goals from Tebogo Langerman and Sibusiso Vilakazi, against Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s solitary strike for Amakhosi.

The right-back, however, will watch this one from the stands, as he is recovering from a knee injury.

“Sundowns is the same team with the same coach,” Komphela says about Sundowns. “We know their plusses and we have prepared to counter that, while we focus on our strengths as well. They have a few combinations and the usual suspects in Khama Billiat, Percy Tau and Hlompho Kekana to watch out for.”

“They are fully focused on the league, now that they are out of the CAF Champions League,” Komphela points out. “They seem to send a message about George Lebese as their trump card. We know his qualities. He has been at Chiefs for nearly a decade. We are aware of his technique and his abilities. Accordingly, we will have to contain his threat.”

Komphela didn’t give away much about his line-up, electing to play it close to his chest.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

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