Posted in News on May 05, 2008.
For the Chiefs coach, the biggest concern would be that he goes into the game with out the services of on form striker Mabhudi Khenyeza, the former Arrows player stole the headlines when Chiefs and Pirates played out an entertaining 2-2 draw back in November. When he scored with an over head volley just seventeen seconds into the match, there will be no such heroics from him on Saturday as he will have to watch from the stands as he serves a one match ban for collecting his sixth yellow card of the season against his former team Golden Arrows last Wednesday.
Double blow
The ban means that Khenyeza will be unable to have a shot at scoring in both games against Pirates this season, as well as the fact that he will have to wait a little longer to get his current goal tally of nine goals in all competitions in to double figures.
Khenyeza grabbed the only goal for the game when Chiefs defeated his former team Arrows in their last ABSA Premier League game on the 30th April, as he latched on to a Siphiwe Tshabalala's free kick mid way through the first half and headed home the games only goal. Khenyeza was a marked man through out the game and remonstrated with the referee after he was again man handled in the 34th minute, the referee flashed a card at him for dissent.
Tactical change
Muhsin Ertugral will now have to change the Shaun Bartlett – Mabhudi Khenyeza strike partnership which has started the past few matches for Chiefs, Ertugral was not happy to be losing Khenyeza for the game and let it be known.
“Of course” was the coaches retort when asked about the fact that he will be with out Khenyeza for the match, he also said “his been finding us goals with ease in recent matches. The boy has scored four us in his last six matches so it is not ideal to be going into the match with out him, the thing is that some one else will now have the opportunity to score the goals”.
