Kaizer Chiefs kick off their MTN 8 campaign against a team that has proven difficult to beat in Maritzburg United, who they meet in the third quarterfinal at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The Soweto giants failed to beat the men from KwaZulu-Natal in a season where they registered at least one victory against all of their other opponents.
Kaizer Chiefs vs Maritzburg United: MTN 8 quarterfinal preview
The rivalry is renewed once more for the first game of the new season, where Amakhosi resume their pursuit for elusive silverware, while their opponents chase their first-ever top-flight trophy.
They kick off proceedings with a new man in charge in the very experienced Gavin Hunt, who takes charge in his first competitive game.
“I’ve only been here two-and-a-half weeks‚ and we did miss a week because the players had a break. But no excuses,” Hunt told the media. “The good thing is I know the players‚ I know what we’re facing and what we’ve got in the squad. So I have to work around that‚ and there are quite a few good young players here who certainly will get their chance. “But I always say that if you’re good enough and can still do the job, it doesn’t matter what your age is. But we have to balance the two [youth and age] because of the situation at the football club. “I’m very confident in the players who we have got. Some you mention as ‘old players’. But‚ ja‚ they’ve done well‚ they’ve worked hard and I’m sure they’ve got a lot to prove as well going forward.”
Gavin Hunt, Kaizer Chiefs coach
Previous meetings
The fixture presents an opportunity for revenge for Kaizer Chiefs, who were knocked out of the Telkom Knockout by Maritzburg United late last year.
However, it is the Glamour Boys who, historically, have had the upper hand in the fixture across competitions, winning 16 times out of 33, while the Team of Choice has registered seven victories.
Kick-off time and where to watch
The match will kick off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on Supersport 2.
