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A football game played without the supporters is like a funeral.
This was Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovani Solinas’ reaction to his team’s next Absa Premiership fixture against Polokwane City, which will take place behind closed doors at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The match forms part of Amakhosi’s punishment for the fan violence that took place in April at the same stadium.
The game was initially scheduled to be played at the FNB Stadium at 6pm on Saturday.
It has since been moved to Moses Mabhida Stadium, the scene of the riots that resulted in Chiefs being ordered by a Premier Soccer League (PSL) disciplinary committee to play without fans in their next three games – one of which is suspended for two years barring no more sanctions from the PSL. The Durban venue is Chiefs’ alternative home ground.
The PSL sanction relates to the pandemonium that followed Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup semifinal elimination by Free State Stars at the iconic Durban arena.
The PSL confirmed the Soweto team’s punishment during its monthly awards ceremony on Thursday - where Solinas and his star player Khama Billiat were named Absa Premiership coach and player of the month for September.
“Football without supporters is like a funeral. It’s an important but [at the same time a] tough game. It will be a disadvantage for us without our supporters,” said Solinas.
“We had 30 000 supporters against Cape Town City [at the Cape Town Stadium almost three weeks ago] … but it’s no excuse. We’ll try and win it for the fans [on Saturday].”
Outlining the preparedness of his squad ahead of the Polokwane clash, Solinas said three players were out of the reckoning.
Andriamirado Andrianarimanana – who is simply known as Dax - has joined the team’s casualty list as the Madagascan midfielder nurses a calf muscle strain.
“Leonardo Castro is still undergoing rehabilitation on his ankle. Joseph [Molangoane] is also on rehabilitation on his fractured leg,” confirmed the coach.
Accepting their awards at the PSL offices on Thursday, Khama and Solinas credited their achievements to the team following a three-match winning streak last month.
“It is not all about me. We all had a great run and the supporters have been there [for us]. There is still room for improvement,” Billiat told the media during the presentation of their awards - that carry a R5 000 cash prize.
“I am happy but it’s about the players. Kaizer Chiefs is bidding to win trophies [and] credit to the players for their effort and commitment and the respect they have for the club.”
Chiefs rose from their winless run of five matches in all competitions with the 4-1 hammering of Cape Town City in the middle of last month, before recording back-to-back wins over Free State Stars and AmaZulu by 2-goal margins.
“The mentality is to improve,” said Solinas, whose side held Highlands Park to a goalless draw at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Tuesday.
The game against Polokwane City this weekend will still be televised, according to Chiefs’ website - which also encouraged its fans to not come anywhere near the stadium.
