Kaizer Chiefs will need to be brave when they take to the pitch at the FNB Stadium to face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening. The game is set for an 8 a.m. kickoff.
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This is because they came with a side that has proven to be unstoppable and enjoy hammering other big teams, especially in their own backyard.
And also, Chiefs will lose to AmaZulu FC last weekend, which will hurt their confidence.
That’s why a leader like Itumeleng Khune is needed in such a situation. Amakhosi’s veteran goalkeeper has raised his hand to take flak from supporters and protect his younger teammates.
“To be fair enough, football is a team sport,” Khune said this week. “When a team is not doing well, certain people will be labeled and given names.
“I think that brings the best out of me as an individual… because as a leader, you can’t run away from the situation we face,” explained Khune.
“You have to face it directly, and the other players look at you as a role model. They look at you as a senior member of the team.
“And if I am ashamed of the situation and the criticism, it means that I am not willing to grow. I am willing to grow as a leader and as a football player.
“And I’m willing to learn to be human. There are a lot of young guys in the team, they can learn a lot from me.
Create an example
He says that the only way he can positively influence his team is by example, by quickly forgetting past results and moving forward.
“In a situation like this, I have to step up, and I have to give a better performance than the performance I gave in the previous game.
“We will be named, but one game does not define an individual. I mean I have been playing for more than twenty years. I have been named before but how I bounce back is more important.
The Chiefs will also welcome back two experienced players Keagan Dolly and Sifiso Hlanti for the Sundowns game.
Hlanti was out due to suspension last weekend while Dolly was nursing a minor injury but both are available for Saturday.