Chiefs Coach Reveals Why Casric is Not a Closed Book

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has revealed why they are familiar with their Nedbank Cup opponents Casric Stars. Chiefs booked their spot in the last 16 after needing extra-time to beat Maritzburg United 2-0 and will come up against the Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit for a place in the quarterfinals.

Sheppard firstly addressed their issue of succumbing to lower league opposition in the past and says the experience of players who lost to Richards Bay and TS Galaxy in the last two years will help them. “Yes, we have players that were part of that squad, they can share the experiences but like I say, we have to look forward at the opposition ahead, what’s coming ahead of us,” Sheppard said in a press conference.

The Chiefs have two players on loan at Casric Stars, Keletso Sifama and Sibusiso Milazi and Sheppard says because they have been monitoring the two players, that gave them the opportunity to watch Casric as a team. “We’ve got two loanees there, Sifama and Milazi, so we obviously have been (tracking their) performances and that has given us the opportunity to see one or two of their games. So we have a little bit of information but I think the main focus will be on us and how setup, how we prepared, so as much as you have all the information on them but we still have to go and play our game and get a victory to go into the quarter-finals,” he added.

Chiefs are in the last 16 of the tournament for the first time in three years and the Nedbank Cup gives them the last opportunity this season to win a trophy in nearly eight years. Casric, meanwhile, are one of the outstanding teams pushing for promotion in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, lying third on the standings, just three points adrift of leaders Polokwane City.

The fixture between the sides will take place on Sunday evening at FNB Stadium. Both teams will be hoping to book their spot in the quarterfinals and potentially bring an end to Chiefs’ eight-year trophy drought.