Posted in News on Jul 18, 2008.
Led by Team Manager, Bobby Motaung and Head Coach, Muhsin Ertugral the boys from Phefeni looked confident ahead of the long awaited clash of the giants.
It is going to be for the third time Amakhosi tackles the Red Devils. The first encounter was in 1993 where the two teams drew 1-all with then Amakhosi striker, Timothy “TNT” Lesenyane banging an equalizer at FNB Stadium. The second encounter was played in Cape Town in 2007 with Kaizer Chiefs going down by a goal to nil following a strike by Dong. There was however no repeat of what happened at Newlands Stadium during the final at Vodacom Loftus in Pretoria as Rowen Fernandez emerged a hero after saving Michael Carrick’s spot kick. The game had ended goalless.
This time the Red Devils come to South Africa fresh from winning the double, Barclay’s Premiership and the European Champions League. They are bringing Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Schols, Carlos Tevez, captain Gary Neville, etc.
Kaizer Chiefs hard tackling midfielder and Zimbabwean international, Tinashe “The General” Nengomashe tells kaizerchiefs.com that they are not intimidated at all. Tinashe was one of the instrumental players as Amakhosi emerged victorious on the “historic” afternoon in Tshwane. He is the man that is entrusted with ensuring that Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick do not have any breathing space in the heart of the midfield.
“Intimidated? No! Looking forward? Yes” was The General response when kaizerchiefs.com spoke to him.
“It is not everyday that you get to play with Europe’s elite, so I am really looking forward to this game on Saturday. I am not thinking about other things but just focused on the game. It is important as a player that you do not distract your focus ahead of the game because that leads to making mistakes. I have just been working hard as I have done all the seasons ahead of any game, no special preparations” he says.
“I watched Manchester United a lot last season. I think Paul Scholes remains their most dangerous player in the midfield. He has been in the game for a long time. Then there is Michael Carrick who also did well in the Champions League but it is Paul who dictates things in the team. We have not been thinking much though about opposition. We are all looking forward to the game. For the young players I am sure it is like they will be going to school for the first time, I am sure that by the last training session today they will be okay” says the midfield general.
Tinashe believes that the current Kaizer Chiefs team has what it takes to come back with a ‘positive result', “I believe that if you play well and do things right it makes things easy for you. If we play well and do not commit unnecessary mistakes we will come back with a positive result”, concludes Nengomasha
