Dark clouds hang over the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg as Chiefs prepare for their Wednesday evening game with Free State Stars, Muhsin Ertugral would like for nothing more than for his team to lift the gloom and return from the North West Province with three points, as his team prepare for a four game fortnight which sees them play three league and one cup game.

The Chiefs coach will be looking for his team to carry on from where they left off against SuperSport United, and will be hoping for them to play well over the ninety minutes as they did in the Telkom Knock Out win over United. With games against Swallows and Sundowns in the league over the next two weeks, a win over Free State Stars will kick start what Ertugral will hope to be a turning point in his teams season as they go for a place higher up in the league.

Rain not a concern for Ertugral

The rain fell at regular intervals on Wednesday in the Platinum city, and it continued falling as the teams came out for the warm up as the kick off nears. Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral is not really fazed by the wet pitch that his team will have to do the business on during Wednesday’s game.

Commenting on the rain and the wet playing surface he said “having to play in the rain cannot be an excuse for us, as both us and them have to play in the same rain our players are professionals and will use the correct gear to deal with the conditions”.

Khenyeza back in line

Mabhudi Khenyeza is one of the changes that Ertugral has made for Wednesday’s game and starts a match for Chiefs for the first time since September 22nd, he takes Shaun Bartlett who celebrates his 35th birthday on Wednesday Bartlett begins the game from the substitutes bench, while Khenyeza will partner Kaizer Motaung Junior in attack.

Further changes

Cyril Nzama who replaced Moketi Tsotetsi at the start of the second half against SuperSport United, is back in the starting eleven while Tsotetsi has been dropped from the team altogether and Derrick Spencer is promoted to the substitutes bench.

David Obua starts on the left side of midfield he takes the injured man of the match from Sunday, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s place Obua’s place amongst the subs is taken by Thuso Phala who makes a return to the match day 18 after missing out on the SuperSport game. Phala last featured for Chiefs when he came on as substitute against his former club Platinum Stars, at the Olympia Park Stadium on the 21st of October.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Itumeleng Khune, 2. Jimmy Tau, 3. Onismor Bhasera,

4. Cyril Nzama, 6. Fabian McCarthy, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 27. Gerald Sibeko,

18. Arthur Zwane, 13. David Obua, 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior, 5. Mabhudi Khenyeza




Substitutes: 1. Markus Bocsker, 28. Derrick Spencer, 22. Mandla Masango,

26. Thuso Phala, 33. Ditheko Mototo, 17. Shaun Bartlett, 12. Thabo Mooki

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Free State Stars (4-4-2): 1. Kennedy Mweene, 2. Sipho Nkosi, 4. Duncan Lechesa,

5. James Matola, , 11. Matome Madimabe, 12. Thulasizwe Mbuyane, 25. Kapamba Chintu, 28. Siyabonga Mdluli, 29. Prince Olomu, 7. Fanyana Dhladhla, 9. Diyo Sibisi




Substitutes: 30. Elias Mashinini, 6. Mbuyiselo Sambo, 16. Sifiso Sithole,

17. Ruben Cloete, 19. Sthembiso Ngcobo, 23. Sifiso Vilakazi

Coach: Kinnah Phiri


Joint Assistant Coaches: Themba Sithole & David Vilakazi


Goalkeeper Coach: Allan Chetty

Match Officials:


Referee: Jonas Nhlapho


Assistant 1: Leon Mnqibisa


Assistant 2: Luyanda Somi


Fourth Official: Johnny Du Toit


Match Commissioner: Vincent Alley