Zimpapers Logo

KAIZER CHIEFS will look to end the year unbeaten in their 2014/15 Absa Premiership campaign when they host MP Black Aces at the FNB Stadium today afternoon.The Amakhosi have had a great league season thus far and currently top the standings with 43 points from 17 matches after 13 wins and four draws.

Their 2-1 midweek win over Free State Stars saw them move 13 points clear of their closest challengers Bidvest Wits, and that is not a lead they want to surrender just yet said coach Stuart Baxter.

“We have to keep our minds firmly focused on the job,” said Baxter.

“If you can do that and make sure that you can control what you can control and not worry about things that are outside of your control, then you restrict the pressure and you allow yourself to hit the gas without having the hand brake up.

“It’s a very mental thing that you have to work on every day. Each game has its own importance and no three points is more important than any other, they are all important.

“We picked up three points in our last game against Free State Stars and we will aim to do the same against Aces to end the year positively.”

Aces come into this game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in midweek and will be looking to bounce back.

The loss saw them drop to eighth on the league table with 21 points from 16 matches, but a win combined with other results going their way could see them move up to fourth on the table.

Midfielder Aubrey Ngoma, though, knows it will be no walk in the park against Chiefs today in front of their home fans in Soweto.

“We know they are on an unbeaten run, and that makes it even tougher, but coming up against Chiefs is always a big motivation for the players,” said Ngoma.

“We are coming into this game off a loss to Celtic and we need the three points in order to go into the break on a high note. We know it will be tough, but the guys have been working hard in training and I am confident we can get something out of this game.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Aces have met in 31 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have 21 wins compared to five for AmaZayoni, while five matches have been drawn.

When the teams met earlier this season, goals from Mandla Masango and Reneilwe Letsholonyane took the Amakhosi to a 2-1 away win. — SuperSport