CHIEFS BRACE FOR STORM IN THE CANAL

DUEL: Amakhosi can expect a rather tempestuous expedition to Suez – courtesy of unwieldy Al Masry SC…

By Masoja Cele

Kaizer Chiefs will hope to continue with their impressive performance in their CAF Confederation Cup campaign when they travel to Egypt to lock horns with Al Masry SC at New Suez Stadium, Suez, on Sunday.

 Chiefs are finding their feet on the CAF  after winning their two previous matches. They beat Kabuscorp 5-4 after a penalty shootout and followed that with a 3-1 triumph over AS Simba at Dobsonville Stadium. AmaKhosi, who are now under the leadership of Cedric Kaze and Khali Ben Youssef, are starting to gel as a team. The two coaches took over after the departure of ex-manager Nasreddine Nabi.

The match will kick-off at 18:00.

 Chiefs qualified for the continental showpiece after winning the Nedbank Cup . It is almost 25 years now since the Naturena based side lifted the Caf Confederation Cup in 2001 (known as Cup Winners Cup then) beating Inter de Luanda from Angola 2-1 on aggregate in the two-legged final. As finalists in the 2020/21 Caf Champions League they succumbed to a 0-3 to Egyptian kings Al Ahly, who were then under the mentorship of South African Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane.

 Kaze and Youssef will expect the likes of midfield workhorse Sibongiseni Mthethwa to pull a master stroke in the engine room. Mthethwa has regained his form that enticed him away from Stellenbosch. He proved his worth when he won the man of the match award against Stellies during the Carling Black Label Cup.

 Teenage prodigy Mduduzi Shabalala will be expected to partner Mthethwa in the middle of the park while defensive midfielder Thabo Cele will be a link between the midfield and defence. Upfront the Phefeni Glamour Boys will pin their hopes on the predatory skill of Flavio Silva . The quicksilver striker has been scoring important goals for his team.

 Al Masry SC are no pushovers in African football . They are among the top five teams in Egypt . Recently, they held their own (0-0) against the powerful Al Ahly in a league match. The home draw will give the Green Eagles a bit of an advantage. They are coached by Tunisian Nabil Kouki.

 They boast quality players in all departments. In goals, they have the agile Mahmoud Hamdy who is shielded by the lanky centre back Khaled Sobhi.

The Green Eagles have a striking pair in Kingsley Eduwo and Ahmed Refaat who could be devastating when given enough space to manoeuvre.