WeeklySA_AdminFACE-OFF: Cape Winelands side expected to adopt more physical posture to rattle Phefeni Glamour Boys on home turf…
By Masoja Cele
With the Carling Black Label Cup resuming this weekend, Kaizer Chiefs will travel to Cape Town to face Stellenbosch FC on Sunday.
This last 16 match of the tournament will take place at DHL Stadium, Cape Town, at 15:00.
Stellenbosch were the 2023 inaugural Carling Cup winners after they defeated TS Galaxy 5-4 in a penalty shootout. However, Stellies’ participation in the tournament last season ended during quarter finals against Marumo Gallants.
In the current campaign, Stellenbosch has failed to regain their scintillating form that instilled fear to the opposition during last season.
Normally, when ‘’The Maroons’’ are in top form big teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns suffer humiliating defeats in their Western Cape lair. Nevertheless, Stellies displayed a much-improved performance against Chippa United last Sunday. A performance that the Cape Winelands side would want to repeat against the more solid Soweto team.
Clearly, a match against the Phefeni Glamour Boys would require the Stellies to field a more physical and mentally solid team.
Head coach Steve Barker would trust players like the midfield genius Andre de Jong and the workhorse Lehlohonolo Mojela to hold their own in the middle of the park. The pair should be ably assisted by defensive midfielder Genino Palace.
Upfront, all eyes will focus on free-scoring Devin Titus and the speedy winger Sanele Barns. The Titus and Barns combination routinely delivers the goods.
On paper, Chiefs are favourites to win, though, football matches are played and won on the field. Amakhosi have shown great character in the 2025/26 season, more especially under the leadership of caretaker coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.
Currently, the pair are in charge of the Chiefs dressing room in the absence of head coach Nasreddine Nabi. Both Ben Youssef and Kaze have brought stability in the Chiefs team. So far, they have not lost a match since being in charge after Nabi’s sabbatical early in the campaign.
On his return, Nabi suffered a 3-0 drubbing to Sekhukhune United and a 1-all draw to Marumo Gallants.
Since then, he has not sat in the Amakhosi dugout, leaving Youssef and Kaze to take charge. Though no concrete statement has come from the Soweto side regarding Nabi’s future, there have been contradictory reports about the Tunisian’s future in the team.
Again, with Youssef and Kaze barking instructions from the bench, Chiefs played a blinder against the visiting Kabuscorp during the Caf Confederation Cup last weekend.
Amakhosi won the tie 5-4 after a penalty shootout. The Soweto giants Congolese international Glody Lilepo scored a beautiful goal that sent Chiefs to penalties. The forceful forward has scored eight goals for Chiefs in all competitions.
If not properly monitored, Lilepo could prove disastrous for Stellies. Midfield sensation Mduduzi Shabalala and exciting winger Pule Mmodi can also pose a threat. if given room to manoeuvre. In defence, Amakhosi will rely on the experienced campaigners Paseka Mako and captain Zitha Kwinika to shut the door.
