Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel insists Amakhosi will show no fear when they face newly crowned African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a highly anticipated Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has challenged his players to raise their level to the standard required in the CAF Champions League when they come up against Sundowns, who recently lifted the continental title.
The fixture represents an early-season test for Da Cruz and his squad, with Sundowns arriving as the reigning champions of Africa and Chiefs looking to measure themselves against one of the continent’s strongest sides.
Speaking to at Naturena Village, Miguel was asked by iDiski Times about his understanding of Da Cruz’s message and what it means for Chiefs ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
“My understanding is that we need to respect that Mamelodi Sundowns won the Champions League, Sundowns is Sundowns but at the same time we are Kaizer Chiefs, you know, we also fight for our goals,” Miguel said.
The Angolan international acknowledged the stature of Sundowns but stressed that their continental success would not change Chiefs’ approach to the match. For Miguel, respect does not mean intimidation.
“We fear no-one,” he added. “I think the message is very clear, we fear no-one, no matter if they are the champions of Africa or the PSL, we will face them as we face Sekhukhune as I said before.
“We will start the game with the same ambition, with the same spirit of fighting. We go in for every duel and that’s the message very clear from the coach,” Miguel said.
The clash also comes during a demanding period for Chiefs, who have been navigating a congested fixture schedule. Da Cruz previously pointed out that his side are the only PSL team playing three matches in six days, giving them one less day of recovery than their opponents.
The Chiefs coach, however, has refused to use the schedule as an excuse and instead sees Saturday’s fixture as an opportunity to discover how his team measures up against the highest level.
For Miguel, the message from the coach appears to have been absorbed. Respect Sundowns, recognise their achievements, but do not fear them.
With FNB Stadium expected to provide the backdrop for one of the most intriguing fixtures of the early PSL season, Chiefs will now attempt to turn that mentality into a performance against the champions of Africa.
And Miguel’s message ahead of the showdown is unequivocal: Amakhosi fear no-one.