Chiefs keep Santos on focus
Chiefs keep Santos on focus

Posted in News on Feb 18, 2011.

Amakhosi coach Vladimir Vermezovic will be aiming to keep his charges solely focused on this Sunday’s Absa Premiership clash against Santos in Cape Town, and he will at all costs be looking for a win and will be looking to avoid any slip ups a week before they face fellow title challengers Orlando Pirates.



Chiefs have lost all three of their games against Cape Town teams in the first round of league action this season and will be looking to change that against Santos, the Amakhosi were unbeaten after six games of the season.



It was Santos, who on the 10th of November 2010, inflicted the first loss of the season on Chiefs, defeating them 1-0 at the Rand Stadium. .



Recent history



This season the clubs have met twice already, Santos were the victors during the earlier clash in the league, while Chiefs knocked the Cape Town side out of the Telkom Knockout Cup defeating them 1- 0 in a fiercely contested Semi-final match.



Over the last five league meetings between the sides Chiefs have won just one game, which incidentally was the corresponding fixture last season. Santos in the meantime have won three and the other game was a draw. With the title challenge heating up, and having been given a tough time by Santos in recent seasons, Chiefs will be looking to improve their recent stats against them.



Current form



The Amakhosi have won their last four games in a row, they last managed such a feat during the run in to the 2004 – 2005 season winning their final four matches of that campaign to lift the title.



They also won four games in a row during the 2003 – 2004 season, it has been a long time though since Chiefs won five league games on the trot. This is a feat they last accomplished during the 1998 – 1999 season, Chiefs are running high on confidence having built momentum as a result of their recent good run of results.



While Chiefs come into the game on the back of a 1-0 triumph over Moroka Swallows in midweek Santos lost their last league outing on Wednesday afternoon going down 3-1 to BIDVest Wits.



Missing out



Chiefs will be without the attacking services on Mthkozisi Yende and the defending abilities of Dominic Isaacs. Yende played a vital role in Chiefs’ win over Swallows - it was his lay up from the right that eventually lead to Jimmy Tau grabbing the match winning strike for Chiefs.

The pair are suspended but striker Knowledge Musona does return after serving a one match suspension while Santos are minus Tyren Arendse who is also suspended for the game.

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