Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Sibongiseni “Ox” Mthethwa says the team must be prepared to “die on the pitch” to overturn their CAF Confederation Cup deficit against Zambia’s Red Arrows.
Amakhosi welcome Red Arrows to Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 6pm for the second leg of their second preliminary-round tie, having lost 1-0 in Ndola last Saturday. They need to win by at least two goals to reach the competition’s group stages.
Chiefs have not won any of their past four matches in all competitions, drawing three and losing one. Mthethwa believes the players must respond with greater intensity in the decisive encounter.
“We’ve seen how they play, so now the challenge is to outrun them,” Mthethwa said. “We must also win every ball and make sure we don’t concede. We will die on that pitch if that is what we should do to win.
“We went to Zambia to win, but sometimes things don’t pan out the way we want. However, now we have a second chance to change our fate. It’s all in our hands, and it’s up to us to decide our fate.”
The midfielder also called for unity between the squad and the club’s supporters as Chiefs attempt to keep alive their ambition of winning the CAF Confederation Cup this season.
Chiefs target group-stage place
“We need to stand together as a team, and our fans must also rally behind us. We know the importance of winning this second leg because all we want is to make it to the group stages,” he said.
“Our main aim is to eventually win this Confederation Cup, so we need to pull up our socks and make sure we win the second leg. We know that good things don’t come easy, so we must sweat for this, and we are willing to do everything we can to win.”
The match against Red Arrows is the first of three important fixtures for Chiefs in the space of several days. Once their continental assignment is complete, they will turn their attention to the Carling Knockout.
Amakhosi will host TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium in the first round of that competition next Tuesday. The same venue will then stage the Soweto derby against their biggest rivals, Orlando Pirates, days later.
