Moloisane: It’s Important To Go Into FIFA Break With Three Points

JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they face Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, with defender Thabo Moloisane stressing the importance of securing three points before the FIFA international break.

Chiefs have won three and drawn three of their six matches so far this season and will be looking to return to winning ways after two draws in their last three league outings.

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, 19 September, at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban. However, Golden Arrows announced that they had been unable to secure a suitable alternative venue in the city, resulting in the fixture being moved to Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and pushed back by a day.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15h00.

Speaking to Chiefs media on Thursday afternoon, Moloisane said the team was determined to make the most of the opportunity to collect maximum points before the international break.

“It’s going to be extremely important for us to get three points. We’ve played two draws in games that we should have won. And especially now that we’re going into the FIFA break, it will be extremely important for us to go into the FIFA break with three points and a little bit of pressure off our shoulders, knowing that we’re keeping up with the pace with the teams that are on top of the league,” Moloisane said.

The defender also reflected on Chiefs’ previous meeting with Arrows, when Amakhosi were eliminated by the Durban side in the MTN8.

Moloisane said the defeat was one the team felt it should have avoided and that the players were aware of the threat posed by Arrows, particularly on the counter-attack.

“Well, I think firstly what you mentioned is we were preparing well for them. We lost a game that we shouldn’t have lost. A game of a few chances, a game of minor mistakes.

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“But at the same time, we know that going into this game is a team that plays with a lot of counter-attacks, a lot of third-man runs behind the defence. So it’s something that we are already preparing on, something that we are aware of,” he said.

The relocation of the fixture from Durban to Mbombela could have altered the usual home advantage for Arrows, but Moloisane does not believe the change of venue will necessarily benefit Chiefs.

Instead, he said the presence of the club’s supporters means the players feel at home wherever they play.

“No, no. For us, I don’t think it will be a disadvantage at all. One thing about us, we are always at home. It doesn’t matter where we’re playing. We always have our fans, you know, rallying behind us every match.

“So it’s definitely not going to be an away game for us. It’s for us to use it to our advantage, as it is like that we always have our fans with us. So definitely, for sure, it won’t be an away game for us,” Moloisane said.

Chiefs will also have to make a change in goal following Brandon Petersen’s injury.

However, Moloisane believes the squad has sufficient depth in the goalkeeping department and that Petersen’s absence will not unsettle the team.

He sent his best wishes to the injured goalkeeper while backing Bruce Bvuma and Renaldo Leaner to step up if called upon.

“Firstly, it’s just well-wishing to Petersen to get well soon. And secondly, no, I think we have capable, in the goalkeeping department, we have capable guys, you know, Bruce is there, Renaldo is there as well.

“So we are not panicking at all. We are all here to, you know, one goal is to make sure that the team wins and to make sure that we support one another.

“So we are definitely not panicking at all. Everyone is just as capable as the other,” Moloisane concluded.