Kaizer Chiefs captain Jimmy Tau is looking forward to leading the Amakhosi into battle against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday afternoon, kick-off at 15h30.AmaKhosi go into this match in second place, breathing down the necks of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Celtic inadvertently did the Soweto giants a favour by holding the Brazilians to a draw midweek, with Chiefs taking full advantage as they accounted for AmaZulu by a 3-1 score-line.
The result put the defeat by Ajax into somewhat more distant memory and Chiefs can now try and build some momentum as the season moves into round two and the race for the title starts to slowly heat up.
However, in Celtic, Chiefs face a side in solid form – Phunya Sele Sele are in sixth position and remain unbeaten at home this season.
Under coach Clinton Larsen, Celtic have become a well organised side whose good form means that they remain an outside bet to enter the title race equation themselves.
Tau accepts the Gauteng side have a challenge on their hands.
“It’s not going to be easy at all. While we are boosted by our midweek win, we must realise that each game is a new chapter, and we have to start again, we can’t rest on past results.
“Celtic’s record at home speaks for itself, and we are going to have to produce a special performance.
“We know what to expect when playing in Bloemfontein, the atmosphere will be electric and it’s up to us to rise to the challenge and use the vibe at the ground as inspiration,” said the AmaKhosi right back.
Chiefs will be without midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who picked up a third yellow card against AmaZulu and is thus suspended.
Celtic meanwhile have their own aspirations and are not about to be overawed by the occasion.
Coach Clinton Larsen says that only a victory would satisfy the goal set out earlier this week.
“I wouldn’t be happy with two points from six, at the beginning of the week we said we wanted at least four, so that means we are going all out for a win.
“It’s a home game for us, so we need to aim for maximum points.”
Larsen says that it won’t be advisable to single out certain on-form Chiefs players, such as Kaizer Motaung Jr and Knowledge Musona, for special attention.
“It’s not just those two players – Chiefs are a quality side all round, even their bench players are dangerous.
“So we need to watch all 11 players. But I feel that some of my players are also hitting top form, so its going to be a great game for the supporters.”
Celtic will be without Clifford Mulenga, who limped off against Sundowns, but can welcome a fit-again Nathan Paulse back into the fray.
Last season Celtic had the upper-hand over Chiefs, winning 1-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away.
But this time round they have already lost twice – in the league and in the MTN8.
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