Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel has called for mutual respect and strong self-belief ahead of Amakhosi’s high-stakes Betway Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
The Soweto giants enter the match sitting at the top of the league standings after securing maximum points from their opening two fixtures—a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Kruger United followed by a solid 2-0 win against Sekhukhune United. However, Saturday’s showdown against the reigning champions represents their first major trial of the season.
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Addressing the media on Thursday afternoon at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena, Miguel emphasized that while Sundowns’ track record commands respect, Chiefs must maintain confidence in their own capabilities.
“Obviously, first of all, we have to respect the numbers,” Miguel stated. “We’re going to face Sundowns with a lot of respect, but we can’t forget who we are. We have to understand that we also have our capacity to go over Sundowns. We don’t have to focus on what Sundowns is capable of doing or not; we have to be focused on what we can do.”
Miguel highlighted the importance of squad recovery following their midweek match and pointed out that Sundowns will present a tactical shift compared to previous opponents.
“The most important thing is that we try to recover the maximum energy we spent last night as soon as possible,” he noted. “Playing against Polokwane City is obviously not going to be the same as playing against Chiefs, because we don’t play the same way. There will be different ways to try to stop us, and we have to understand how we can maximize our own ability.”
With momentum on their side, Chiefs will look to leverage home advantage and prove their title credentials in front of a passionate crowd at FNB Stadium.
