SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs will meet on the field at Cape Town Stadium this evening, in a crunch match which is crucial to both sides. Former Amakhosi star, Jabu [Pule] Mahlangu, is feeling confident that Stuart Baxter will lead the Matsatsantsa to victory against his former side. Do you agree?
Fan Park's editor Rossella Marrai-Ricco sat down with the SSU ambassador on the eve of the game where he spoke about Baxter's influence on the side since taking over from Gordon Igesund.
"The players are very excited and the spirit is very high at the camp. The players are responding very well to Baxter even if we know that it has been a short period of time since he came to the club," revealed the 35-year-old.
"Everyone is looking forward to the game and knowing that our coach will bring a lot of value to the club. He is experienced, we know what he is capable of doing – we saw what he did with Kaizer Chiefs last season."
Not only does is the fixture important to the log standings for both outfits, but it also sees the English tactician face the Glamour Boys for the first time since leading them to the Absa Premiership title last season.
Mahlangu says Baxter is bound to provide special insights about the Naturena-based club: "He knows how Chiefs play and I think he will help coming up against them. But the spirit is very high – it is a big game.
"We want to win the game as a unit. At the end of the day, we want to move up the log – we are sitting ninth right now... If we win, which is what we are going to do, we are going to go to number seven and possibly finish in the top four.
"Realistically, it is impossible to catch Sundowns unless something happens. We are looking to win each and every game from now until the end of the season. The coach has brought belief to the players in themselves even more."
The Daveyton-born midfielder went on to add: "We are going to focus on the game as a team. Of course he is going to have his insights that he is going to give us. As I said before, he knows the players, he knows their mentality, their philosophy and so I think it will be a plus for our players tomorrow night.
"At the same time, it is not going to be an easy game. It has always been a tough game against Chiefs, but we know we are going to get three points because we really need it."
Do you believe that Stuart Baxter will have what it takes to beat his former club? Stay tuned in Fan Park tomorrow morning, to find out who Jabu says was his toughest opponent and how he felt coming up against him.
