Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs striker Kenny Niemach is expecting a tough encounter when his two former teams clash this weekend in the Carling Cup Knockout.
However, Niemach has boldly predicted Chiefs to edge it on the day.
“There’s no doubt that we are in for a fascinating encounter,” Niemach told Showmax this week. In recent times, Sundowns have had an upper hand against Chiefs, but I feel this time will be different. Chiefs have a new manager and new staff, and they have implemented a proper structure, and have a new system in place.
“Judging by the mood ahead of the fixture, and the fact that Chiefs lost recently to Sundowns, they’re going to want to pull one over on Sundowns, so I suspect that Kaizer Chiefs is going to come into this game with a more vengeful attitude because of the last encounter. They are going to come out with a point to prove and so I feel they will just pip it.”
But Niemach knows that Chiefs will have to be at their very best if they are going to get a positive result against the current PSL champions.
“Sundowns have been impeccable over the last few years. Their style of play has been maintained; their identity has been maintained. They play possession football, catch you on the break, play short passing and have quick interplay, this is how they play. They haven’t lost their identity at all so they will be tough to beat. With Chiefs now rebuilding their identity it will be a fascinating encounter.”
Niemach is also full of praise for Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi. “Sundowns’ manager is fabulous. He is the silent killer. He is one of those that is well-equipped, knows the game well. He is one of the students of Ted Dumitru, he’s got a wonderful ethos about him. He plays total football, possession football, and he strongly emphasises on technique. Tactically he is also astute. The team are boding well, and he is a highly underrated coach, that doesn’t talk too much but gets the job done, so well done to him. And may he continue to be successful for a long time at the club.”
Niemach also believes Chiefs have chosen the right man to bring success to the club with the appointment of Nasreddine Nabi.
“The new Chiefs coach is charismatic; he ticks all the boxes. He cuts a very confident figure and seems like an authoritative figure from the bench. He certainly has put his ethos on the players and the team. They look very energised as a team and are in a good moment. It seems like they have strong characters in the team, and Nabi has a good plan to take the club forward and achieve great things with them. You have got to give Nabi a bit of time, but so far so good.”
Niemach says this bodes well for the league. “It’s going to bode very well for our local league, and Sundowns will now no longer just run away with the league. Pirates need to catch up as well, so it will be Chiefs Pirates, Sundowns and maybe even SuperSport in the fray for the title. It makes the league a lot more competitive, which is a good thing.”
While he expects Chiefs to pip Sundowns in this weekend’s game, Niemach says it’s incredibly difficult to predict a winner in a cup game. “History will tell you that in a cup game, anyone can win it. It depends on what the group ethos is on the day. So, on the day you give everything you have because it’s not the marathon of the league, this is a once off occasion, so you have to go out there and give it your absolute best, which both teams will do I am sure. It’s’ very difficult to say who’s going to be favourites, an on current form, both teams are playing really good football so it will be a cracking encounter.
“The team that occupies the rules of the game, and by rules, I mean possession, whoever occupies space and time wins the game, that’s what it’s about. You’ve got to occupy space and time. If you can control that within the game and maintain possession and keep it away from the opposition for as long as you can, and when you get an opportunity, you take it, then victory will certainly be yours.”
Niemach has also opened up about what it was like playing for big clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. “As a footballer coming from Durban, having played for clubs like Cape Town Spurs, and then ending up at Sundowns, I saw it as a springboard for my career. I was looking to go all the way, but it just didn’t happen for me. However, playing for Sundowns was very exciting, I liked the fact that their support base was a lot bigger than I was used to. I liked the fact that they were more organised. I liked the fact That they were more professional in terms of their coaching, and the ways in which they approached the games. It’s fantastic for any footballer’s career. I found that I improved in many aspects of my career, but more than just in my career, I improved as a human being and a person.”
“So by the time I got to Kaizer Chiefs at the end of my career, I was already ready to throw in the towel, because one gets tired. Emotionally and mentally, you get tired of doing the same thing over and over.
“What I did find, however, was that Kaizer Chiefs lacks patience with players and with managers, and they expect instant results, and there is no room for error. I found that environment to be quite harsh and heavy taxing on a person emotionally.”
“So, football is tough, from a mental point of view. You must be strong mentally to be a good footballer.”
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