Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic, Wednesday warned his players to keep their feet firmly on the ground when they face PSL champions SuperSport United in the first round of the Nedbank Cup at the Rand Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Vermezovic led Amakhosi to their first trophy this season when

they won the Telkom Knockout last weekend, defeating defending

champions Ajax Cape Town 2-1 in the final played in Durban.

“It was fantastic winning the Knockout, especially for me

because it was my first cup triumph since joining Chiefs at the

start of the season.

"The players and myself have celebrated but that is over and we

must look to the future.”

Vermezovic said he was not worried about playing his fifth

consecutive away match. “At every venue we played in the Knockout

about 80 percent of the supporters were ours. So we are not

concerned about another away match.”

The Serbian coach, however, has plenty of respect for SuperSport

who have won the PSL championship for the past three seasons and

have beaten Chiefs twice in the league this season.

“SuperSport are a quality side and in my opinion striker Anthony

Laffor and winger Daine Klate are their danger men.”

But the Chiefs coach will be working on neutralising United's

ability to score form set pieces: “We all know that set pieces are

SuperSport's strength and we will try and counter that.”

Vermezovic said he had three players under the weather with flu

that has hit the camp. Struggling are strikers Nkosinathi Nhleko,

Tshepo Bulu and midfielder Michael Nkambule.

Vermezovic also lavished praise on veteran goalkeeper Arthur

Bartman who was signed at the start of the season when number one

choice, Itumeleng Khune, was injured.

“In my opinion Bartman, on current form, is the best goalkeeper

in South Africa. Khune is still number one, but will have to work

hard when he returns form Bafana Bafana to get his place back.”

Khune is in Germany training with Bafana in preparation for the

World Cup in June.

Said Bartman: “My confidence is sky high. It was a fantastic

feeling lifting the Knockout trophy last Saturday night.”

Chiefs midfield dynamo, Tinashe Nenomasha, said SuperSport would

be tougher opponents than Ajax. “This will be the toughest game of

the season and I agree with the coach and Bartman we must forget

the Knockout and concentrate on SuperSport.”