Kwinika Focused On Stellies Before Soweto Derby
Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika insists that Amakhosi’s immediate attention is firmly on their Betway Premiership clash against Stellenbosch before thinking about the upcoming Soweto Derby.
Amakhosi will host Stellies at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night, looking to consolidate their position in the Betway Premiership standings.
Chiefs are currently sitting in fourth place with 30 points from 15 games this season, a return that has kept them within touching distance of the leading pack.
However, anticipation is already building among supporters with a highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates scheduled for Saturday at the same venue.
Despite the excitement surrounding the derby, Kwinika made it clear that the squad’s primary focus remains on Tuesday’s assignment.
“That one is straightforward, and I didn’t know we were playing a derby on Saturday,” Kwinika said.
“We are playing against Stellenbosch on Tuesday; the main focus is on this game. The other game we will see in the days that are coming.”
The clash against Stellenbosch will mark the third meeting between the two sides this season.
Amakhosi claimed victory in their league encounter earlier in the campaign, but Stellies had the upper hand in cup competitions, eliminating Chiefs in both the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup.
With those cup exits still fresh in memory, Kwinika was asked whether Tuesday’s fixture presents an opportunity for revenge. The Amakhosi vice-captain dismissed that notion, emphasizing growth and tactical discipline instead.
“For me, I won’t say it is revenge or what, but I would say we learned from our mistakes in the previous games,” he added.
“I think going into this game now, we will have a better view and more clarity on certain things that we need to do well. If we go out there with the mentality of revenge, that can expose us to a lot of things.
“We are just sticking to the plan because we know what they (Stellenbosch) do best and what we can capitalize on and what we can do best.”
With league points at stake against a familiar and competitive Stellenbosch side, Amakhosi appear determined to handle their business methodically before turning their attention to the spectacle of the Soweto Derby.
