The CBL, which enters its fifth season, pits Soweto giants against perennial rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and will this season be played at the FNB Stadium on August 1.
With voting still steaming ahead, Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo led his side’s voting count, followed by defender Erick Mathoho, but the two Zimbabweans also made their own case for the starting line-up, where selection is the prerogative of beer-drinking fans.
When looking purely at the Amakhosi defence, Mathoho grabs 34 percent of the votes, while as expected, Katsande was in the Chiefs team earlier this week, alongside George Lebese, Siphiwe Tshabalala and George Maluleka in the midfield, while with 14 percent of the voting, Rusike looked set to either gate-crash the first team or come off the bench as Chiefs seek to start off well under new coach, Steve Komphela, who replaced Briton Stuart Baxter during the off-season.
Former Free State Stars and Maritzburg United mentor Komphela is under pressure to emulate Baxter’s impressive achievements of two league crowns and two knockout trophies in three seasons.
Chiefs and Pirates are usually judged by their achievement against each other and with there no friendly match between them, the CBL will set the tone for what looks like an eventful season for two sides that are under the rare mentorship of two local coaches.
In fact, Khomphela becomes the first local fulltime coach at Chiefs since Trott Moloto in 1994. Wellington Manyathi (1997), Jacob Sephoa (1999) and Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse (2002/03) were all care-takers.
Post published in: Football