Kaizer Chiefs are not in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage to make up the numbers; instead, they want to go all the way in the tournament and win it for the first time since 2001.
Chiefs are in the Confederation Cup group stage and will face Al Masry in their opening clash at the Suez Stadium on Sunday.
The Confederation Cup is a tournament they are familiar with. They won the African Cup Winners’ Cup — also known as the Mandela Cup — 24 years ago. That victory was historic as they became the first, and only, South African based team to date to win the competition.
In order to emulate the class of ’01, Chiefs have been hard at work over the last two weeks, preparing for their opening group stage clash. They know they have to win the match to send a stern warning to the rest of their group opponents, which include Zamalek, another Egyptian side that will visit them a week later at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Chiefs are taking both games seriously, knowing that strong performances will extend their impressive unbeaten run and give their supporters — who have stuck with them through thick and thin this season — a perfect Christmas present.
“I think the preparations went well. Two rivals, and Egyptian teams coming,” defender Dillan Solomons noted. “So, it’s going to be really tough. Obviously, we planned well, and we know what we want to do in those games.”
Indeed, Solomons and company want to do well in the two matches before the AFCON break, so much so that they are unfazed about visiting Al Masry in Egypt before hosting another team from the land of the pyramids in the follow-up fixture.
“It doesn’t really matter, personally. It’s just about picking up results away from home,” Solomons said.
“We want to start with a win away from home and use that as momentum for the rest of the campaign. For me, any fixture — home or away — doesn’t matter.”
Again, whether home or away, games do not matter much to Solomons. He’s relishing the fact that he’s getting game time, especially after falling down the pecking order this season following the arrival of Thabiso Monyane, whose backup has been Reeve Frosler.
“I am really excited and looking forward to what the competition holds for us. We obviously want to do well in this competition,” Solomons said. “Yeah, we are really excited and feel blessed to be part of the journey.
“Personally, it’s been a crazy journey. So, I am really excited to be part of the team that’s going to the Confed (Cup group stage).
“We know what we want to achieve as a team, and as an individual I know what I want to achieve — which is to play in these kinds of tournaments. And not just be part of it, but to win it. So I am really excited.”
