While a fixture clash will ensure that Chiefs defenders Jimmy Tau and Moketi Tsotetsi are unable to turn out for Bafana Bafana during next weeks COSAFA Cup Semi-Final encounter against Botswana, the Amakhosi’s defensive duo are well pleased with the fact that national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has recognized their contributions to the fact that in four league games this season so far, The Amakhosi are yet to concede a goal in open play.

Tsotetsi and Tau have featured strongly over the first month of the current league campaign for Muhsin Ertugral, with Tsotetsi playing in all four of Chiefs matches while Tau started the opening match against Benoni Premier United and Chiefs' last game against SuperSport United.

Tau has Ajax on the mind

It was his strong performances at right back over the two games that he has featured in during the 2007-08 season, that have helped him find a way back into the national team and even though he will be unable to heed his call up, Jimmy Tau is not intending to let up against Ajax Cape Town when they visit Chiefs in Tshwane on Saturday evening.

Tau said of his recall to the national team and the impending visit of the Urban Warriors: “It is unfortunate that myself and the other Chiefs players will not be able to play in the COSAFA game, but the reason we received the call up was because of our performances at club level. Defensively, the team has done well this season, we have had good shape and excellent understanding and we do have another tough assignment against Ajax and our job will again be to ensure we help the team keep a clean sheet.”

Tsotetsi looking strong

Moketi Tsotetsi made news when he moved from Jomo Cosmos to Kaizer Chiefs in July and with his headline-making transfer now a thing of the past, the very competitive defender has set about establishing himself at the centre of defense.

Prior to Moketi and Jonathan Quartey’s arrival, Chiefs were looking frail in the centre of defense, but the acquisition of Tsotetsi and Quartey has helped add a strength to Chiefs back line. Tsotetsi though is not concerned about facing up to Ajax on Saturday and is ready to literally tackle the problems that will be posed by the likes of Thembinkosi Fanteni and Makhenyiseli Siwahla.

“Ajax are second on the table and are a team currently playing at the top of their game. Fanteni is their obvious threat up front and Siwahla will try to find the openings for him, but over the past month, as a team, we have shown that we can deal with any opposition. In the past four games we have played very strong teams and facing another formidable opponent is not an issue for us. We will play our natural game and our objective obviously will be to ensure that once more defence will be our best form of attack.”