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Durban - Kaizer Chiefs are determined to end the season on a high and reaffirm their status among the leading forces in South African football when they face SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup final in Durban on Saturday.
Amakhosi ended their eight-year Premiership drought last week when they claimed the league championship for the first time since 2004/05, and they are now bidding to end a seven-year wait since they last won the country’s most prestigious knockout title.
“We want to bring back those glory days when Kaizer Chiefs were well known for bringing trophies to Naturena,” Chiefs assistant coach and former player Doctor Khumalo said ahead of the game.
“When (coach) Stuart (Baxter) came on board, that was his vision and the vision of the chairman (Kaizer Motaung).
“Winning the league and being in the cup final was just the cherry on top. The future is the most important thing and we just want to see Kaizer Chiefs winning trophies again and making sure we build a team.”
Chiefs’ last major cup trophy came back in 2010 when they won the Telkom Knockout, while their previous appearance in a final was in the 2011 MTN8 showpiece, when they lost to Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
Khumalo insisted their mission was not to outdo the Buccaneers, who won a trophy treble the previous two seasons in succession, but rather to create fond memories for their supporters.
“I can’t really say anything about Pirates because I don’t know their plans,” he said.
“But with us, it’s not all about the league or Nedbank Cup, it’s all about the future and restoring the norm at Kaizer Chiefs.
“So it is important for us to win the trophy this weekend because we need to keep the smiles on the faces of our faithful fans. The boys know how important the game is.”
The former midfield star also paid tribute to SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt for the way he had turned the defending champions into “one of the forces in South African football”.
“I must say that Gavin and his technical team have done tremendously well.
“It’s not an easy team to play against. We just have to go out there and respect them without fearing them.”
United assistant coach Kaitano Tembo was equally complimentary of Chiefs.
“We’re playing against the champions. They just won the league and I think the quality of a team is always judged by winning the league,” Tembo said.
“I think if you get into a cup final, you win three games or four games, then you are there in the final.
“That says we’re playing against a very good team, a quality side that has been very consistent throughout the season, so it’s going to be tough.”
Amakhosi ended their eight-year Premiership drought last week when they claimed the league championship for the first time since 2004/05, and they are now bidding to end a seven-year wait since they last won the country’s most prestigious knockout title.
“We want to bring back those glory days when Kaizer Chiefs were well known for bringing trophies to Naturena,” Chiefs assistant coach and former player Doctor Khumalo said ahead of the game.
“When (coach) Stuart (Baxter) came on board, that was his vision and the vision of the chairman (Kaizer Motaung).
“Winning the league and being in the cup final was just the cherry on top. The future is the most important thing and we just want to see Kaizer Chiefs winning trophies again and making sure we build a team.”
Chiefs’ last major cup trophy came back in 2010 when they won the Telkom Knockout, while their previous appearance in a final was in the 2011 MTN8 showpiece, when they lost to Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
Khumalo insisted their mission was not to outdo the Buccaneers, who won a trophy treble the previous two seasons in succession, but rather to create fond memories for their supporters.
“I can’t really say anything about Pirates because I don’t know their plans,” he said.
“But with us, it’s not all about the league or Nedbank Cup, it’s all about the future and restoring the norm at Kaizer Chiefs.
“So it is important for us to win the trophy this weekend because we need to keep the smiles on the faces of our faithful fans. The boys know how important the game is.”
The former midfield star also paid tribute to SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt for the way he had turned the defending champions into “one of the forces in South African football”.
“I must say that Gavin and his technical team have done tremendously well.
“It’s not an easy team to play against. We just have to go out there and respect them without fearing them.”
United assistant coach Kaitano Tembo was equally complimentary of Chiefs.
“We’re playing against the champions. They just won the league and I think the quality of a team is always judged by winning the league,” Tembo said.
“I think if you get into a cup final, you win three games or four games, then you are there in the final.
“That says we’re playing against a very good team, a quality side that has been very consistent throughout the season, so it’s going to be tough.”
