Kaizer Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter has confirmed a couple of players have been ruled out due to Covid-19 ahead of the Soweto Derby against Swallows on Sunday.
Chiefs were already without the services of Cole Alexander and Njabulo Blom through suspension but have now been further depleted for the derby clash against the Dube Birds this afternoon.
But the Amakhosi boss says they will have no excuse as he’s putting a team out that will be capable of securing all three points against the out-of-sorts Swallows.
“We had our match in Maritzburg and because we did three warmups because of the lights, it was 15 kilometers instead of a usual 10-11 kilometers game.
“Then we had the game quickly afterwards. We have a few cases of Covid and the suspensions (of Njabulo Blom and Cole Alexander).
“In addition, we have the normal injuries that everyone else has. Does that mean that we have an excuse to have a day off against Swallows? Certainly not, we will put out a team that will win the game.”
The two-time league winner says Brandon Truter’s side’s start to the season won’t be relevant in this clash today as each side has their own issues and the occasion could spurn them into a turnaround they should be mindful of.
“I can’t judge the severity of another team’s problems. If Swallows are looking at us, they could say they have suspensions and injuries and Covid and other things,” Baxter added.
“They can’t tell if that’s firing us up or getting us down. I can’t tell with Swallows. If it was me, I would be using it as motivation. I don’t know if it’s going to hurt them or fire them up. I am banking on them being fired up in a derby and we are going to have to play well.”
Chiefs could move as high as second place with a win against Swallows at Dobsonbille Stadium this afternoon (15h30).
