by Dzudzie Faith Netshisaulu
Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel says Amakhosi will approach Saturday’s clash against Mamelodi Sundowns with the respect the reigning CAF Champions League champs deserve but insists they must also have confidence in their own ability.
Chiefs have made a perfect start to their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign, winning their opening two matches to move to the top of the league standings. They now face their first major test of the season when they host Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Speaking to the media at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena on Thursday afternoon, Miguel acknowledged Sundowns’ quality and impressive record but stressed that Chiefs should not be intimidated by their opponents.
“Obviously, first of all, we have to respect the numbers. We have to respect what Sundowns have achieved, because they are a team that can be champions of the Champions League,” Miguel said.
“We are going to face Sundowns with a lot of respect, but we cannot forget who we are. We also have the capacity to overcome Sundowns, so we have to focus on ourselves and what we are capable of doing.”
Miguel believes the key for Chiefs will be to concentrate on their own strengths rather than becoming overly concerned about Sundowns’ capabilities.
“We don’t have to focus only on what Sundowns can or cannot do. We have to be focused on what we can do,” he added.
The defender also highlighted the importance of recovering quickly after Wednesday night’s match and preparing tactically for a Sundowns side that is likely to present a very different challenge.
“The most important thing is that we recover as quickly as possible from the energy we spent last night and understand how Sundowns want to play,” he explained.
“Playing against Polokwane City is obviously different from playing against Chiefs because we don’t play the same way. Teams will have different ways of trying to stop us, and we have to understand how we can use our abilities.”
Chiefs opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Kruger United before following it up with a convincing 2-0 win against Sekhukhune United.
Those results have given Amakhosi an ideal start, but Saturday’s encounter against Sundowns is expected to provide a much sterner examination of their title ambitions.
With both sides expected to arrive at FNB Stadium with confidence, Miguel believes Chiefs must strike the right balance between respecting their opponents and believing they can get the better of them.
For Amakhosi, Saturday’s showdown could offer an early indication of just how far they have progressed under their current campaign, while Sundowns will be looking to remind the rest of the league why they remain one of the country’s most formidable sides.
