adminKAIZER Chiefs have beaten Platinum Stars, their Telkom Knockout semifinal opponents on Saturday, once already this season, but Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter is anxious about facing them again after a bit of a lull in the Absa Premiership.
“They are a difficult proposition and I think we will really have to be on our toes, give a good account of ourselves or otherwise we will be in trouble. If we keep giving possession away to them we are in trouble because they are quite good on the ball,” said the coach about the clash at FNB Stadium.
“My eyes are going cross-eyed watching football on television, but now we get back to the nitty-gritty.
“Sometimes you get a team that is good in the league and struggles in cup competitions, but they have obviously proved to be a decent cup side.”
Dikwena were crowned MTN8 champions in September after beating Orlando Pirates on penalties in Durban, ending a seven-year trophy drought and proving that finishing as runners-up to Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League last season was no fluke.
“We have beaten them once this season, so they must have some weaknesses, obviously,” said Baxter.
“People have not expected a lot from Platinum Stars. They have crept under the radar a little bit and perhaps their players are a little bit more relaxed and do not have the pressures that maybe we do. That is good for their confidence and they take advantage of it.”
While Amakhosi had to come from a goal down against Free State Stars and eventually progressed to the semifinals through the lottery of penalties, Dikwena humbled Sundowns 2-1 in a fiercely contested match in Phokeng.
Baxter is still concerned that his defence is a bit fragile. “Tsepo [Masilela] will not be fit for this match. It turns out his injury [he was hurt while in camp with Bafana] is a bit more than just a week-long lay-off.”
Amakhosi also got a bit of a boost this week with the early return of striker Knowledge Musona from a shoulder injury.-Sowetan.
Online Reporter