Kaizer Chiefs may have boasted on their club website that they are the “most successful team” in Telkom Knockout, having won it 13 times since 1983.
But coach Giovanni Solinas was right in saying that the Amakhosi “will not take them lightly at all”, referring to their clash against Black Leopards in the cup tournament.
Chiefs will be pleased that they will at least face Lidoda Duvha at home on the weekend of October 20/21 following Monday night’s draw.
But guess what? The last time they faced each other, Leopards won 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup last-16 clash on March 21, 2015, also away from home at the FNB Stadium.
Morgan Shivambu opened the scoring for Leopards in the first half, and Willard Katsande equalised with 11 minutes left.
With the match heading for extra time, Roggert Nyundu scored in the first minute of stoppage time to snatch an unlikely victory.
Could history repeat itself in the Telkom Knockout this year?
Solinas was brought in during the off-season as a replacement for Steve Komphela, who endured three trophyless seasons at Naturena.
And the Italian knows that silverware is all that counts at Chiefs.
“We will try our best to do well and win the trophy. We have to do it for the fans, to quench the long trophy thirst at Naturena. I’m positive we will do well,” Solinas said.
“We will prepare very well for Black Leopards and will not take them lightly at all.”
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