KAIZER Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic warned yesterday that holders SuperSport United could edge closer to yet another domestic premiership title if Amakhosi did not stop the leaders in their tracks at Loftus tonight.
Vermezovic said defeat was not an option if Chiefs were to reduce the widening points gap between United and the rest of the chasing pack.
“That is why this is perhaps the most important game for us this season,” the Chiefs coach said.
“They are such a good team and they are the best. This match can either make the season more interesting or give SuperSport more room to increase their points gap.”
Chiefs captain Jimmy Tau agreed with his coach and said the players understood the magnitude of the match at Loftus tonight.
“It is important for us as players to understand what is at stake and just how important this match is,” Tau said. “We have to close that (eight-point) gap and we really cannot afford to lose this game.”
Vermezovic singled out the irrepressible United duo of Anthony Laffour and Daine Klate as potential threats, and it is clear that Chiefs will plan their defensive strategy around neutralising the two players.
“Personally, I believe Anthony Laffour is the most dangerous player at SuperSport. Daine Klate is also dangerous but I think that Laffour is always a threat.”
Laffour warned that Chiefs would come unstuck if they planned around himself and Klate.
“I have heard opposition coaches say this kind of thing for the past two seasons and they have still never been able to stop us,” Laffour said yesterday afternoon. “Teams always plan around me and I have heard this so many times before. We are not a one-dimensional team and we always have a Plan B to counter this. So we will see what happens at Loftus . This is a huge match and they know that they have to beat us .”
But Vermezovic was adamant that despite his open praise for his rivals, he still believed that his charges could beat the leaders.
“It will be a really tough match but we will test them. We will not defend because it is not our style.”
Vermezovic is facing a selection dilemma as No1 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is now available for selection after coming back from injury and it seems the Serb cannot bring himself to relegate incumbent Arthur Bartman to the bench.
The Chiefs coach was visibly annoyed when asked about Khune and said people had to accept that Bartman was the preference.
“I really do not know why people keep asking me about Khune. I do not see any reason to make changes in the goalkeeper department because Arthur Bartman is very good. I do not want to destroy him (Bartman) and drop him.
“Khune is also important to Bafana Bafana and we have to make sure that we do not (rush him).”
Chiefs will probably have the other contenders in their corner tonight as United are now just 14 games away form a third title in a row. They have that familiar look of champions and if they win another three points tonight — as they are expected to — it is going to be difficult for anyone to bet against Gavin Hunt’s charges ascending that winners’ podium again in February.
TODAY’S PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES
Ajax Cape Town vs Free State Stars at Boland Stadium (3:30pm), Moroka Swallows vs Black Aces at Dobsonville Stadium (7:30pm), AmaZulu vs Platinum Stars at Chatsworth Stadium (7:30pm), Bloemfontein Celtic vs Santos at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium (7:30pm), Maritzburg United vs Wits at Woodburn Stadium (7:30pm), Kaizer Chiefs vs SuperSport United at Loftus (7:30pm), Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirates at Super Stadium (7:30pm)
ntlokom@bdfm.co.za