When Siyabonga Nkosi transferred from Bloemfontein Celtic to Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season, there were just two dates on the league fixture he was looking forward to. Those dates being when he would be coming up against his former team mates from Celtic, with the first meeting having passed off in November with Chiefs losing the game. Nkosi is looking forward to turning the tables on his former teammates when Chiefs take on Celtic this Saturday evening at the ABSA Stadium in Durban. Kaizerchiefs.com caught up to Siyabonga and got his thoughts on Saturday’s game, and about the mood in the Chiefs camp since Kosta Papic assumed the helm at the start of the week.

KC.COM: The obvious question to start with Siyabonga is about-facing your old teammates on Saturday evening. Your first game against them in November ended in disappointment, how are you envisaging it to go this time?

SN: For me there is only one way it can go and that is a win for us, I am not looking at it in any other way and anything but a win will be a disaster for us. They beat us the first time around it was very hard for me to except that defeat and I have been looking for the opportunity to play them again, I do believe that this time around we will be able to come out the stronger team.

We have been through a lot in recent times and with a new coach we have made a new beginning, and everything that has happened is in the past and we will now rewrite the final chapter of the 2006 – 2007 season with a happy ending.

KC.COM: In Bloemfontein during the November game the Celtic fans really gave you a hard time, didn’t they?

SN: Definitely they booed me at every turn but to tell you the truth I did not expect anything less from them, given the fact that I had left Celtic they were never going to forgive me for that. The thing is that at the beginning of a match the boo boys affect you but once the game is underway you kind of forget about it, I do not really see that being a problem in Durban. The adverts say that Durban is the kingdom of the Zulu, they should also mention the fact it could be Chiefs territory as well, over the past season every time we have played there it has been to capacity fantastic crowds.

KC.COM: Who of your former teammates are you expecting to give Chiefs a tough time on Saturday evening, and will the team be able to cope with them?

SN: There are a few guys in the Celtic team I worry about, I must add that most of their big guns are injured so it could count in our favour the fact that they could be missing up to eight of their regular starters. From the guys who I do believe will be playing the first and foremost threat will come from striker Petros Mahlatsi who is enjoying some good form recently.

Our own Ntokozo Sikhakhane although I have never played with him he has really turned on the style for Celtic, he remains a key player for the in the midfield. The usual customers are there John Maduka who is a no nonsense players, who sticks to his job for the full ninety minutes and does not let up in his tasks. Two more guys who I enjoyed playing with while I was at Celtic, Moses Spandeel and Kelinbooi Taaibos, two players who always come out trumps in games against the bigger teams.

KC.COM: On the Chiefs end of things, how has the first few days been with the new coach?

SN: The thing is he made it clear from the onset that he does things differently and that we have a new start that put every one at ease and allowed for us to concentrate on getting our form back. He has definitely done things differently and I am sure he will continue with his own philosophy as it has worked for him in the past, I can not make an over all assessment on him as it is still early, what I will say is that I have enjoyed working with him for these past couple of days.

KC.COM: Finally is his approach to the team and the players as well as training different to what you were previously used to?

SN: I think so, he stresses a lot on team unity and working together and of him not being just a coach but out friend as well and I must say that I do like his open door policy. He is the kind of coach who wants us to die for the team at training and during matches and away from the field to be friends as well, he uses a lot of psychology and motivational tactics to get the best out of us.