Posted in News on Mar 27, 2007.
Although the two teams have already met this past season with Chiefs winning the previous match between the teams 2-0, the game was played before empty seats at the FNB Stadium as Chiefs were ordered to play the game behind closed doors, as a result of unruly behaviour by a group of fans after Chiefs had lost a league game back in September to Wits.
Back in November a lack of Vuvuzela’s and cheering fans were missed at an eerily silence FNB Stadium, and the colourful spectacle that usually greets a game between Chiefs and their Soweto neighbours Swallows will be in full bloom on Sunday afternoon in Germiston with both sets of fans expected to turn the occasion into a true football festival.
To matters on the field of play with Chiefs and Swallows having being eliminated in the opening round of the ABSA Cup, the teams have been in a somewhat precarious position. As a result of their early elimination from the cup - both teams have been inactive in official competition since the middle of March, with Chiefs last competitive game being a 4-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic on the 10th March in Durban.
While Chiefs have kept themselves busy with a number of friendly and reserve league games, likewise Gavin Hunt has used reserve league games to keep his regulars match sharp.
Historically Speaking
Chiefs and Swallows have a long standing rivalry which spans the better part of three decades, while traditionally Chiefs and Pirates are said to be fighting fit neighbours. If one were to go through the annals of history you might find that Chiefs and the other PSL team who come from Soweto have a similar rivalry if less intense than the one The Amakhosi share with Pirates.
During the 1980’s and early 90’s Chiefs and Swallows fought out a number of closely contested affairs including a number of Cup Finals, through which the Amakhosi usually prevailed.
Since the inception of the PSL in 1996 Chiefs have generally held the upper hand over Swallows, and have been beaten just twice in twenty league games contested between the teams. Chiefs lead the count this season having already twice run out victors over Swallows, the first time coming in the SAA Supa8 Semifinal where The Amakhosi edged out Swallows 2-1.
In the behind closed doors game in November Chiefs managed to make light work of Swallows easily deposing of them 2-0, thanks to goals from Siyabonga Nkosi and Shaun Bartlett. Like they did last season when they recorded a hat trick of wins over Pirates, Chiefs will be looking to complete a hat trick of wins over Swallows, thereby completing what could be a unique series of a hat trick of wins in back to back season over Soweto teams.
Form
Chiefs and Swallows are at present still smarting from having been eliminated at the first hurdle in the ABSA Cup, and will now firmly have their sights set on finishing as runners up in the title race. Swallows currently two points ahead of Chiefs in third place, can be over taken should The Amakhosi run out winners on Sunday and a win will see Chiefs race into second spot above Swallows.
Since their ABSA Cup defeat Swallows have been able to take home the full compliment of points from league games against Golden Arrows followed by a 2-0 win away from home against Bidvest Wits.
Chiefs followed their ABSA Cup exit at the hands of Golden Arrows with a loss to lowly placed Amazulu in their next league game. Defeat also spelt the end of the line for Ernst Middendorp who was relieved of his coaching duties at the club. Kosta Papic, a shrewd tactician who in his first game in charge masterminded a 4-0 win with his new charges over Bloemfontein Celtic, replaced Middendorp.
Against Celtic The Amakhosi were explosive and created and took their chances with aplomb and wasted no time in dispatching their opponents. The Amakhosi’s performance against Celtic sent out the warning signals that Chiefs were out to finish off the season in the strongest possible way.
Kosta Papic has been able to instil a new sense of belief in his players whose confidence is currently sky high and will be looking for a similar display to the one that the put up against Celtic.
Key Players
The arrival of Kosta Papic has breathed new life into Chiefs midfielder Scara Ngobese who showed his delight at Papic’s appointment by renewing his contract at Chiefs. Coupled with that Scara was in scintillating form and tore apart Celtic in Durban, in a performance that had the crowd at the ABSA Stadium on their feet in appreciation of the number elevens hard work and mesmerising footwork.
For Chiefs to keep up with their explosive beginning under Papic it will be imperative of Scara to fire on all cylinders once again.
While Scara opened up the Celtic defence it was Kaizer Junior with a hat trick who firmly shut the door on the Phunya Sele Sele defence, it was three goals against Celtic that took the young strikers goal tally for the season into double figures. He now has the PSL top marks man prize within his grasp, another good performance against Swallows and he could well be on his way to catching Chris Katongo’s fifteen goals.
With Katongo unable to increase his goal tally in the PSL having transferred away from Cosmos during the January transfer window, Kaizer Junior will be looking to use the momentum gained against Celtic to keep him rolling in the goals. With him playing his fiftieth game for Chiefs in all competition on Sunday, it is almost a given that he will be looking to mark this milestone in the way he knows best.
Lefa Tsutsulupa has been the driving store behind much of Swallows success this past season, the talented midfielder has come to the fore and put in some big performances which have worked as motivating factor towards raising the rest of his team mates game.
Tsutsulupa has in the past tormented Chiefs and this too was evident when the teams collided earlier in the season.It will take a strong willed performance from the Chiefs defence to keep him quiet. Should Chiefs ensure that Tsutsulupa is unable to play his normal game they will have gone a long way towards winning the three points.
Another Swallows player who brings his best game when Chiefs come to play is goalkeeper Greg Etafia, after being benched earlier in the season due to the arrival of former Chiefs goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe. Etafia fought back to win his place in the starting line up and has had a remarkable turn around in form which has ensured that he holds on to the number one spot.
Kaizer Chiefs v Moroka Swallows
Head to head
1985
Chiefs 3 (Dladla, Khulu, Mthikhulu) Swallows 0
Swallows 0 Chiefs 0
1986
Chiefs 0 Swallows 2 (Mangena (pen), Hlongwane)
Swallows 0 Chiefs 3 (Maponyane 2, Ntsoelengoe)
1987
Chiefs 3 (Mthimkhulu, Dladla, Ntsoelengoe) Swallows 1 (Hlongwane)
Swallows 1 (Mangena) Chiefs 1 (Maponyane)
1988
Chiefs 0 Swallows 0
Swallows 1 (Mnini) Chiefs 2 (Khumalo, Thindwa)
1989
Swallows 0 Chiefs 1 (Khumalo)
Chiefs 4 (Macgregor 2, Thindwa, Khuse (pen)) Swallows 3 (Grobler 2, Cousins)
1990
Swallows 0 Chiefs 1 (Lesenyane)
Chiefs 1 (Ngobo) Swallows 1 (Mphafudi)
1991
Chiefs 2 (Seale, Thindwa) Swallows 1 (Mpondo)
Swallows 1 (Peterson) Chiefs 0
1992
Swallows 1 (Peterson) Chiefs 2 (Radebe, Madida)
Chiefs 1 (Khuse) Swallows 0
1993
Swallows 2 (Leepo, Ramasike) Chiefs 1
Chiefs 0 Swallows 0
1994
Chiefs 2 (Nyirenda, Tovey) Swallows 0
Swallows 1 (Makgaledisa) Chiefs 0
1995
Chiefs 2 (Mine (og), Mthethwa) Swallows 0
Swallows 1 (Mpondo) Chiefs 0
1996
Chiefs 0 Swallows 0
1996/97
Chiefs 0 Swallows 0
Swallows 0 Chiefs 0
1997/98
Swallows 0 Chiefs 1 (Makua)
Chiefs 2 (Batchelor 2) Swallows 0
1998/99
Swallows 0 Chiefs 1 (Batchelor)
Chiefs 3 (Muchichwa, Tshisevhe, Lebese) Swallows 0
1999/2000
Swallows 1 (Auseb (og)) Chiefs 2 (Lebese, Nomvete)
Chiefs 1 (Tshisevhe) Swallows 0
2000/01
Swallows 0 Chiefs 0
Chiefs 1 (Ouseb) Swallows 2 (Niemach, Mazibuko)
2001/02
Chiefs 1 (Zwane) Swallows 1 (Nombe)
Swallows 1 (Sebona) Chiefs 5 (Pule 2, Permall, Nzama, Zwane)
2002/03
Chiefs 4 (Fredericks, Musasa, Mabedi x2) Swallows 2 (Ngobeni, McNab)
Swallows 2 (Sebona, McNab (pen)) Chiefs 3 (Radebe 2, Zwane)
2003/04
Chiefs 2 (Musasa, Mooki) Swallows 1
Swallows 0 Chiefs 2 (Mbesuma, Radebe)
2004/05
Swallows 1 (Lota) Chiefs 0
Chiefs 2 (Mbesuma 2) Swallows 0
2005/2006
Swallows 1 (Niang) Chiefs 1 (Schalkwyk)
Chiefs 1 (Scahlkwyk) Swallows 1 (Monyai)
2006 / 2007
Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nkosi, Bartlett)
Head to Head Since 1985
| P | W | L | D | GF | GA | |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 44 | 25 | 7 | 12 | 59 | 28 |
| Moroka Swallows | 44 | 7 | 25 | 12 | 28 | 59 |
