Vodacom Challenge Play off Match


Eastern Province Rugby Stadium


Port Elizabeth, Eastern Province


Thursday 26th July 2007


20h30


Playing Conditions: Clear skies with North to North Westerly Wind expected temperature at kick off 16°C

Amakhosi coach Muhsin Ertugral has stuck by his word to give as many of his players the opportunity to get as much game time as possible, during Chiefs pre-season programme by making three changes to his starting eleven for Thursday evenings Vodacom Challenge play off game against arch rivals Orlando Pirates in Port Elizabeth.

The Chiefs coach has also brought in a number of new faces into his overall squad and will be once again hoping to use up his full compliment of substitutions; such is the confidence in the strength in depth of his squad. That the Turkish born coach is able to shuffle around his pack and still be confident of a win on Thursday evening, all this bodes well for Chiefs with the Kick off to the new league season less then three weeks away.

The Changes

With Muhsin Ertugral still experimenting and testing the waters so to speak he has again opted for a goalkeeping merry go round as Emile Baron who started in the 2-1 defeat against Spurs, has been given the night off as former Austrian u-21 international Markus Bocsker is giving a starting berth against Pirates. South Africa u-23 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has been is on the substitute bench with Baron being omitted from the squad all together for the Pirates encounter.

Two more changes to the starting eleven from the team that were narrowly beaten by Spurs this past Saturday, sees the coach trying out his options in central midfield with Derrick Spencer making way for the on form Tinashe Nengomasha. While Spencer will start on the bench on Thursday Scara Ngobese will watch the game from the stands, as Siphiwe Tshabalala gets the nod to start his first game for Chiefs. The much spoken about midfielder impressed after coming on as a substitute against Spurs in Durban, the Amakhosi will be expecting him to pull the strings in midfield.

Further changes to the Chiefs squad sees striker Serge Djiehoua suffering all week with a cold replaced by David Radebe, while the space vacated by Tshabalala on the bench will be occupied by the young promising talents of 18 year old Mandla Masango.

Starting Eleven:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 1. Markus Bocsker, 2. Jimmy Tau, 3. Onismor Bhasera, 4. Cyril Nzama, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 12. Thabo Mooki, 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala, 18. Arthur Zwane, 17. Shaun Bartlett, 5. Mabhuti Khenyeza

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida

Starting Eleven:

Orlando Pirates: (4-4-2): 44. Francis Chansa, 14. Lucky Lekgwathi, 28. Mark Destin,

17. Lehlohonolo Seema, 19. Innocent Mdledle, 06. Mlungisi Gumbi,

07. Josephy Kamwendo, 24. Joseph Makhanya, 11. Bennet Chenene,

23. Lebohang Mokoena, 36. Ralph Matema

Coach: Bibey Mutombo


Assistant Coach: Chris O’ Loughlin