Posted in News, Team News on Sep 26, 2024.
Kaizer Chiefs host Mamelodi Sundowns in an early-season showdown which will afford both teams the opportunity to lay down a marker for theirBetway Premiership title credentials.
Amakhosi come into the game on the back of a 3-1 midweek away win over AmaZulu, while Sundowns were 4-1 winners at home against Marumo Gallants. FNB Stadium will see Chiefs play at home for the first time this season, with kick-off for the game at 15:00. A near capacity crowd is expected for the game.
The rivalry between Amakhosi and The Brazilians, in their current guise, stretches back to the 1983 campaign. It is a rivalry which now spans 31 years and will be the 29th successive season that the teams will face each other since the PSL era began in 1996/97. Over their previous 56 top-flight clashes in this time, Chiefs edge Sundowns with 21 wins to 20. 15 games have ended in draws. Chiefs have won more PSL league games against Sundowns than any other club.
With the excitement and anticipation for the game at fever pitch, Amakhosi will be looking to avenge the 5-1 loss they suffered in the corresponding fixture last season. Indeed, Chiefs have not won in their last six league games against Sundowns, and will surely use that as motivation to register their first win against Sundowns since the 2020/21 season in this blockbuster clash.
Amakhosi come into this game having won their opening two league games for the first time since the 2019/20 season and are looking to kick off a season with three successive wins for the first time in 10 seasons. Just like in 2014-15, when Chiefs won the title, they have started by playing their first two league games away from home. Back then they won their third game by defeating Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0.
For Chiefs it will be crucial to begin their campaign at home with a statement win they go on the hunt for their first title in a decade. There is also history beckoning for Chiefs coach, Nasreddine Nabi. The Tunisian mentor can become the first Chiefs coach to win his first three league games in charge of the club coach in the PSL era since Jeff Butler in 1996/97. Although the 1996/97 season was not Butler’s first season at the helm of Chiefs, Nabi is in his first spell as Chiefs head coach.
The last Chiefs coach to win his first three league games in charge of Chiefs in his first spell at the helm was Augosto Palacios in 1995.
