JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs coach, Giovanni Solinas, has ruled out any chance of his team playing for a draw in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final against SuperSport United on Saturday.
AmaKhosi visit Lucas Moripe Stadium for the first match of the tie and then host SuperSport in the return leg on September 1. Solinas has already seen his team slump to three draws in their five games under his watch thus far, but says another against SuperSport will not be acceptable.
“I repeat, we are Kaizer Chiefs and a draw is not good for Kaizer Chiefs. Maybe all the other clubs are happy when they draw away but not at Kaizer Chiefs,” Solinas told Soccer Laduma.
“At Kaizer Chiefs, we are happy only when we win the game. So a draw is not good, I know this. We put effort (into) changing the results to win the game. We need to win the game because that is our destiny... we play to win.”
SuperSport started their season with a 2-0 loss to Cape Town City, but have since won three in a row; beating AmaZulu, Orlando Pirates (on penalties) and Bidvest Wits. Chiefs have signed Lebogang Manyama and Mario Booysen since their last game, a drawn against Maritzburg United, but it is not know if either was play a part against SuperSport.
“We know it’s going to be difficult because we play SuperSport and SuperSport is a very important club in South Africa,” Solinas said. They have very good players and the coach is good. He’s got a strategy that he used against Wits, AmaZulu and Pirates. He’s strong with good preparation and tactically very good.
"For me, it’s a difficult game because my colleague is also very good. In the PSL there are no easy games. Every game is tough and every game needs concentration. Every game needs good preparation.”
MTN8 Press Conference taking place at the PSL Offices ahead of Sunday's semi-final clash.
SuperSport United's Head Coach, Kaitano Tembo with Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach, Giovanni Solinas. #HailTheChief #Amakhosi4Life #MTN8 pic.twitter.com/nb7B21e3YH
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) August 23, 2018