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Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs head coach Vladimir Vermezovic has targeted three Bloemfontein Celtic players who he believes could cause his side problems when they meet in an Absa Premiership clash at the Rand Stadium on Saturday night.
Kick-off is at 18:00.
Vermezovic said Phunya Sele Sele playmaker Nigerian Prince Olomu was a threat as were strikers Moses Spandeel and SA under-23 international Dino Ndlovu.
“Olomu is my favourite player in the PSL. He is quick and dangerous. I will also keep an eye on Spandeel who scored twice against AmaZulu and Ndlovu who netted three goals for the SA under-23 side recently (against Zambia in two matches), ” said Vermezovic.
Spandeel’s goals helped Celtic score their first win of the season when they beat AmaZulu 3-1 at home recently and Celtic will be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat Amakhosi inflicted on them in the MTN8 quarterfinal clash played at the same venue last month.
Former Yugoslavian international defender Vermezovic is expecting fireworks form Celtic. “This will be a much more difficult game for us than when we played them in the MTN8. They have improved and have signed a couple of quality players so we are preparing for a tough battle,” said Vermezovi.
He was happy with his side’s performance especially his strikers, Knowledge Musona and Sthembiso Ngcobo when they drew 1-1 against archrivals Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 in last weekend’s pulsating semi-final first leg clash at the FNB Stadium.
But he stressed new signing Ngcobo can play better. “Ngcobo will improve and he is in my plans for the season.”
He said that Bafana cap Ngcobo added much needed experience. “I cannot play two youngsters like Musona (20) and Lucky Khune (21) together at present. Khune is progressing like Musona did last season. I have spoken to him and told him that when his chance comes he must grab it.”
But Vermezovic is happy with the way his side is progressing. “We are in good shape at the moment.”
Chiefs defender Valery Nahayo is looking forward to playing against Celtic’s new striker Nathan Paulse. Said the Burundi international: “Paulse is a good striker but I never worry about individual players our strength is our teamwork.”
Nahayo added that a win over Celtic would boost Chiefs' hopes of defeating Pirates in the second leg of their cup semi-final clash at the FNB Stadium on September 26.
“Beating Celtic twice in one month would be good and it would be a morale booster ahead of Pirates. But the big one to us is the league and that is why we cannot afford to slip up and lose points against Celtic,” said Nahayo.
Chiefs skipper Jimmy Tau agreed and said his players would not take Celtic lightly.
“That would be the biggest mistake we could make. Celtic are always difficult opponents. They always manage to give us a hard time and after beating them last time they will be trying to settle that score. We have to put the cup game against Pirates out of our minds and focus on one game at a time. We need to keep our unbeaten momentum going.”
