Mokoena insists results don’t reflect Chiefs' form

The two square off in the DStv Premiership at FNB Stadium on Saturday, with Amakhosi having suffered two successive defeats, 1-0 against Sekhukhune United and then 4-0 away to AmaZulu last weekend. 

But Mokwena says those matches are not a true reflection of coach Arthur Zwane’s team. 

"Chiefs will always be Kaizer Chiefs. A big club historically and needs to be given a lot of respect. Great players on the pitch, and maybe even performances have been much better than the results suggest.

If you look only at the scorelines like AmaZulu, you'll get probably a very wrong impression about the team. If you check only the result against Sekhukhune, you'll get the wrong impression about the performance levels of the team. 

They are extremely well-organised and very clear in their patterns of play, and well-drilled scheme and very good players with a good coach and a good technical team around them”, he claimed.

The Sundowns mentor expects Chiefs to try and utilise their experienced players in an attempt to turn the corner as soon as possible. 

"Chiefs' profile is very clear, a very good mixture. (Sifiso) Hlanti is experienced, (Edmilson) Dove is very experienced, and Zitha (Kwinika) is very experienced with great leadership capacity and profile. 

And then you go to the midfield with the use of (Yusuf) Maart that is got very good youth experience at a very good level internationally and has a very good foundation from the academic perspective. 

It’s a team that's got very good strengths. Good players. Keegan (Dolly) is very experienced and has matured very very well. Occupies the half space on the right side very well, with a lot of comfort. Drifts into the 10 positions with a lot of comfort too", Mokoena observed. 

The Brazilians are favourites to clinch a sixth straight title now that they are 14 points clear after 17 league matches, but Mokwena cautions that the race is far from over.

"No. No league has been won in January. I'm consistent in my statement, it's a statement I say in the confines of our 'beating' rooms where I am always honest with them and they know. 

But because I say it to them I can say to you guys and they know that no league's been ever won in January", he insisted.