Chiefs coach wary of complacency ahead of Soweto derby

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has admitted that his players could lose focus on their DStv Premiership match against Stellenbosch FC and save themselves for the Soweto derby which is four days later.

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Amakhosi host Stellies at FNB Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in a game Baxter believes will be a tough test for his resurgent side. The Naturena side have been showing some improvement in the last few games with big wins against Chippa United and SuperSport United in the last two. 

“There’s that in the back of somebody’s mind (even) if it’s the Milan derby, the North London derby or the Old Firm derby. You run a risk of players taking their eye off the ball in the game before a derby.

“We have spoken about that. But again, Stellenbosch are such a dangerous opponent at this moment in time, that we know we’ve got to stay focused. I’m hoping that will not be an issue. But it is a banana,” Baxter told his club’s website.

Baxter is however happy with the progression shown in the last two games where they beat Chippa 4-0 and SuperSport 2-1.

“The lads have been working hard. They were obviously buoyed by the last result (against SuperSport). And it’s shown in training, the training quality has been very good. We’ve just been looking at the stats and how much they’ve been running and the speed at which they’ve been running, and it’s above normal.

They’re looking forward to the game. They know Stellenbosch are having a very good time. They play, with all due respect, with less pressure than a Pirates, or a Sundowns, or a Chiefs, because people have got this misguided view that if you’re not one of the big three, then you’re not expected. 

“But Stellenbosch and Steve Barker have done a fine job and they’re a very difficult opponent, as everyone who has played them so far can attest to. We know we’ve got a tough game on our hands and we will have to be at our best if we are going to win the game.”