Kaizer Chiefs defender Inasihu Miguel is defending the team's game plan ahead of the major confrontation with Mamelodi Sundowns. The start of Kaizer Chiefs' season in the Betway Premiership tournament was built on attention to detail, organization, and tactical understanding.
These principles will be tested in the upcoming match on Saturday afternoon (at 3 o'clock) at FNB Stadium. Chiefs currently hold first place in the league table, achieving this position through victories over Kruger United and Sekhukhune United, scoring five goals while conceding only one.
Despite the impressive statistics, the team, according to Miguel, is far from perfect functioning; rather, they have mastered the basics, scoring enough goals while maintaining defensive discipline.
Defender Inasihu Miguel is at the center of mixed feelings among club fans. He is sometimes criticized for errors in passing or execution, but at the same time praised for timely tackles and leadership in defense. As an experienced player, he understands this dual relationship with the fans, especially considering the demands placed on players before and during matches.
Miguel stated that he understands the fans' disappointment because 'sometimes they want things to happen quickly.' However, he emphasized that the team must first follow the coach's instructions and execute the pre-planned game. He added: 'Sometimes you cannot rush. We must be organized and know where our teammates are. Are they ready to receive the ball? Obviously, tactics are part of the game. I understand that fans want us to score quickly, but that is not always the reality of every match.'
Miguel advised Chiefs fans to expect the team to stick to its plan, which will be critically important to neutralize the threat posed by Sundowns this weekend. He explained: 'For example, in the game against Sundowns, if we rush, they might gain momentum and counterattack. Sometimes it is important to slow down the pace. That is part of the tactics, even if I understand the fans' desire to play aggressively for victory.'
Although Chiefs are the home team, Sundowns arrive in Nasrec as favorites, having dominated recent encounters against Amakhosi, especially away. Nevertheless, Sundowns appeared vulnerable defensively, conceding two goals in each of the first two matches of the season, relying on dramatic late moments to secure two 3-2 victories.
Miguel insists that facing the champions early in the season is a privilege, not a burden. He stressed that the team will focus on refining its own preparation before analyzing the opponent's threats. 'First of all, we must respect Sundowns. All of South Africa must respect them—they are Champions League winners,' said Miguel. 'We will meet with great respect, but we cannot forget who we are. We need to understand that we have the potential to overcome Sundowns. We must focus on ourselves, not on them. Our energy will be spent on recovery and analyzing how they intend to approach us. Their planning against us will not be the same as against Polokwane. Stopping us will be difficult, but we must also be equally clinical in how we stop them.'
