Monyane urges Kaizer Chiefs to turn MTN8 disappointment into Sekhukhune victory

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabiso Monyane says the club’s MTN8 exit must motivate them to respond positively when they face Sekhukhune United in the league at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.

Chiefs were beaten 1-0 by Golden Arrows in their return to the season-opening domestic cup. The defeat ended their involvement in the competition after a two-year absence, during which they finished outside the top eight required to qualify.

The result leaves Kaizer Chiefs with an immediate opportunity to recover in the league, although they face a Sekhukhune United side that has already recorded two wins in all competitions this season.

Wednesday’s fixture will also see Sekhukhune United head coach Cedric Kaze return to Soweto. Kaze left Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season and will now lead the visitors against his former club.

Monyane believes the league match offers Chiefs the chance to make amends for their early cup departure. He said the loss to Golden Arrows had exposed areas that required attention and provided the squad with additional motivation during preparations for the next fixture.

“The MTN8 loss really tested us as a group,” Monyane told Kaizer Chiefs media.

“And we have used that as fuel to improve all areas of our game, to sharpen up. It has been a wake-up call for all of us and we are preparing very hard to play Sekhukhune.

“They are a tough, hard-running team that is well organised so it will not be easy, but it’s a chance for the boys to put in the work necessary to get a good result and we are going to go for it.

“We know [Mamelodi] Sundowns are looming in the background, but we are taking one step at a time, and our full attention is focused on facing Sekhukhune.”

Monyane’s comments underline the importance Chiefs are attaching to their next league outing. Rather than allowing the MTN8 defeat to affect their start to the campaign, the defender says the squad has treated the result as a wake-up call and used it to sharpen its approach.

Sekhukhune’s unbeaten-looking start, including two victories across all competitions, means Chiefs are expecting a demanding contest. Monyane described Babina Noko as organised and physical, with a team that works hard across the pitch.

Although Mamelodi Sundowns are already in the wider picture, Monyane said Kaizer Chiefs would not look beyond the immediate challenge. The focus, he stressed, remains on securing a good result against Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium.

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