Chiefs, Pirates clash for charity

KAIZER Chiefs’ new coach Vladimir Vermezovic has quickly learnt there is no such thing as a friendly between Amakhosi and Orlando Pirates.

Yesterday he stressed he would field his strongest team against Pirates in the second Telkom Charity Cup semi-final at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 12 noon.The former Partizan Belgrade defender and coach was introduced last week to the intense rivalry between the two clubs and realises how important it is to win a Soweto Derby.The Serbian-born Vermezovic came through his baptism of a Soweto Derby during last Thursday’s Vodacom Challenge where Amakhosi defeated Bucs on a sudden-death penalty shootout in their ‘semi-final’ played in Port Elizabeth.Said Vermezovic after putting his players through their paces at Naturena on Thursday: ‘The first thing I learnt was there is no such thing as a friendly match between Chiefs and Pirates. ‘The fact that my midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane, broke his leg in that game and is out for eight weeks, proves my point.’Chiefs went on to beat big-spending Manchester City 1-0 in the Challenge final at Loftus last Saturday.But he will be taking no chance against Pirates and stressed there would be no charity either. ‘We want to play in the final. We are ready despite a couple of worrying injuries and I will start with what is my strongest side and if we make the final, which I hope we do, then I will decide the plan for the final. ‘It is tough playing two full games in one afternoon. There is not much time for the winner to rest after the games as the final kicks off at 5pm, but will be ready as we played in a similar tournament (Premier’s Cup in PE) in an earlier pre-season tournament, so I have an idea of what to expect.’ – Supersoccer