Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United preview: Sorry Gavin Hunt, history favours Amakhosi

Kaizer Chiefs upped the tempo in their preparations for Saturday’s DStv Premiership match against Chippa United with a number of intense training sessions in the past couple of days as they get ready to face Gavin Hunt and his charges.

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Amakhosi will take on the Chilli Boys at 17:30 at the FNB Stadium in a fixture in which coach Stuart Baxter will be hoping his team collects the full three points and climbs the standings.

For Kaizer Chiefs, matches against Chippa United have always been feisty affairs.

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With this being the 19th time the teams will square off in a league clash, Kaizer Chiefs hold a slight edge over Chippa United having won eight games to six while two fixtures have been drawn.

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Phathutshedzo Nange is expecting a fierce battle on Saturday.

“We are expecting a tough game,” says Nange.

“They are a good team and we will have to fight hard for a win. There is no such a thing as a bad team in the DStv Premiership and we are ready for the game.”

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The midfielder is also eager to continue and build on Kaizer Chiefs’ performance from their last game against AmaZulu where he proved to be a problem for the hosts in the 1-1 draw that took place before the FIFA international break.

“We take with us the performance from the AmaZulu game into Saturday’s clash,” adds Nange.  

“Hopefully we can draw on that and get the three points from the game.”

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Last season when the teams met, the away side were the winners on each occasion with the sides trading 1-0 wins.

The last five games between the sides have all produced winners with Kaizer Chiefs winning three while the last drawn match between them was a 0-0 stalemate with Kaizer Chiefs as hosts on 10 November 2018.

Adding to the special nature of clashes between the teams, current Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter’s first season at the helm of Amakhosi during his first spell in charge in 2012/13, saw Chippa United feature in their inaugural season in the top-flight.

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Back then, Kaizer Chiefs did the double over Chippa United, winning both matches home and away.

The first league clash between the teams on 29 September 2012 saw Chiefs win 2-0. Amakhosi followed that up with another 2-0 win on 6 March 2013.

During his first spell in charge of Kaizer Chiefs, Baxter won all four of his league clashes against Chippa United, including his final league game in charge of the Soweto giants (against Chippa United) on the final day of the 2014/15 season.

That clash was a 2-0 win away from home for Kaizer Chiefs who had already been crowned league champions before the match which took place on 9 May 2015.

Kaizer Chiefs will be hoping to end a four-game winless run in the league this season and make head-way up the table with a ninth overall victory against Chippa United, in what will be the ninth occasion that they will be hosting them in a league game.

Victory for Kaizer Chiefs will be their fifth in nine home league games against the Chilli Boys.