No rest for Chiefs’ best

Vladimir Vermezovic insists that he will not be resting any players for Wednesday night’s Absa Premiership encounter with BIDVest Wits, despite the proximity of this coming Saturday’s MTN8 semi-final second-leg at Ajax Cape Town.

With Chiefs and Ajax having played out a goalless draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday night in the first leg, that means three games in seven days for his top players but Vermezovic was candid in his response.

“Why, do you rest from your job?” he said.

“A game is two hours long, why are they going to rest? They are paid to play, not rest.”

Chiefs were disappointing in the home leg, failing to create a multitude of opportunities, with their best chances falling late to substitute Mandla Masango, the winger’s shot cleared over the bar by Nazeer Allie.

“You can only play as well as your opponents allow, I said before Ajax are a difficult side,” added Vermezovic.

“We didn’t look at the result of their two league games. I think it will be easier to play them away, as the pressure will be on them.”

Ajax had picked up just one point from their opening two league games, but put up an excellent display against the Amakhosi, and might have snatched an away goal, with Zimbabwean forward Khama Billiat missing two excellent opportunities.

“I am happy to come away with a draw,” said Ajax coach Maarten Stekelenburg.

“We would’ve liked to have scored, that would have been even better. We had chances, so did Chiefs, but we showed that we could play football. We put the league results behind us.

“It’s definitely better for us to play (the second leg) in Cape Town. It is an advantage and we will see (this coming weekend) who is the strongest team.”

Ajax will face Chiefs on Saturday without central defender Clayton Daniels, who is moving to Mamelodi Sundowns, but Stekelenburg insisted this would not be a problem. “We will be prepared, don’t worry,” he said.

Vermezovic, meanwhile, said that Thomas Sweswe and Mthokozisi Yende were back in training after recovering from flu, but would not say if they would play against Wits.

“They started training yesterday, but we will see, anything is open,” said Vermezovic.

“They will be in the squad, but I don’t know if they will be in the first XI or on the bench or in the stands.”

Stekelenburg, meanwhile, insisted the Urban Warriors could handle the intensity of a Cape derby against Santos on Wednesday night, ahead of the second leg.

“We play away, but I am very happy it is in Cape Town against Santos,” said Stekelenburg.

“The fitness of our players is good and we can handle a midweek game against Santos.”