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Chiefs wary of SuperSport

Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder George Maluleka does not expect an easy game when his side locks horns with SuperSport United in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Satruday.

Kick-off is at 20:15.

The supersport.com website reports, Chiefs have been in fine form at the start of the season and have gone seven games unbeaten in the 2014/15 campaign, winning three MTN8 cup games and four league games.

The Amakhosi continued their perfect record in the league in midweek with a 2-0 win over Platinum Stars which sees them at the summit of the Absa Premiership table with 12 points.

Still, despite their impeccable form and the chaos which appears to be happening in the SuperSport camp, which has seen coach Cavin Johnson let go, Maluleka insists his former club will not be easy to overcome.

“We are doing well as a team, but it doesn’t mean it is going to be an easy game,” said Maluleka.

“Every game is a different ball game.

“We just need to go out and do the same as we have been doing.

“We need to play our normal game and stick together like we have been doing.

“We need to keep it simple because that is what has been bringing results for us.

“We won’t go out there and be complacent. We need to go out and do our bit and capitalise on their poor situation.”

SuperSport certainly are in a dire situation at present with only three points from their four league games which sees them hovering only two places above the bottom of the table.

Following their third successive defeat in midweek, losing 2-1 to black Aces, coach Cavin Johnson was released from his contract at the club.

A statement from the club has said that it was a mutual parting of ways with Matsatsantsa CEO Stan Matthews explaining the decision.

“We’ve had two coaches in 13 years and changing of coaches is not something we want at the club,” said Matthews, “But, like all PSL clubs, we are also results-driven and want to compete with the best in the country in both the short and long term.

“The spate of recent losses does not reflect the quality in our squad.”

SuperSport will review the coaching position, but for now under-19 Coach Kaitano Tembo will take charge of the team for Saturday’s match against Chiefs.

We were not able to get hold of a SuperSport player ahead of the current game as they have shut down on all media communication, but Matsatsantsa’s media man Koketso Gaofetoge says they are looking to bounce back.

The disappointment of losing our third league game is immense and you can see it among the players, however we will have to rise above the disappointment if we are to compete against Kaizer Chiefs,” said Gaofetoge.

“Perhaps the game against Chiefs comes at the right time when our players have their backs against the wall.

“We know that Chiefs have won all their four league games and they are at the top of the table but our players will have to search deep within themselves to overcome this rough patch.

“We will rise again as we have the quality in the team. It’s just the momentum of getting a string of positive results that we need to get our season up and running.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and SuperSport have met in 47 league matches since 1990.

Matsatsantsa have 18 wins compared to 16 for Amakhosi, while 13 matches have been drawn.

Chiefs have won nine of their 24 home matches against United down the years, suffering 11 defeats in the process.

Last season Matsatsantsa won their home fixture 3-1, while the Soweto giants picked up a 1-0 victory in the return match.

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