Amakhosi prepare a new game plan for Simba

DEFENDER Reeve Frosler says Tanzanian visitors Simba SC will not derive much benefit from watching Kaizer Chiefs in action against Swallows FC in a midweek Premiership match.

Simba, Champions League quarter-finalists two seasons ago, arrived in South Africa on Tuesday ahead of their quarter-final first-leg match against Chiefs on Saturday at the FNB Stadium (6pm kick-off).

On Wednesday, Simba's squad watched Chiefs in action on television as part of their preparation for Saturday's showdown.

"Simba has done well to arrive early so that they can acclimatise, and also have a look at our game," said Frosler.

"This is a CAF fixture, and we play differently than when we play a Premiership League game. The game plan will be different, and the make-up of the team will be different.

"Our whole psyche changes for the match and we go about things differently.

"We go into the match as underdogs, and even though they saw us play they won't know too much about us.

"I think we have a chance to win the game. We have seen how unpredictable the CAF games have been. Anybody can win on the day, so we will see what happens. We will do our best."

Frosler said the team does not have much time to prepare for the clash against Simba.

"We just come from a game on Wednesday, but we are going into the game with a good feeling because this will be the first time the club will be playing in the knockout stages," said Frosler.

"They are a team that has done well in CAF over a few years, and they are big Tanzania.

"I'm looking forward to the game. It will be a new challenge for us, and we will be up for it. I enjoy playing these CAF games."

Under-fire Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt also pointed to a short turnaround time for Saturday's CAF match and said it was not ideal.

"None of the teams in the

(CAF) quarter-finals will be playing two days before the game (except Chiefs)," said Hunt.

"It is what it is with us (Chiefs). We will have to regroup and see who is available for Saturday's squad.

“With us playing in the quarterfinals, I think it was not ideal to play midweek. Obviously, it was not. But it is what it is, and we just must dust ourselves and ‘go’ again on Saturday.

“We do not know too much about Simba, but I have watched them a few times on the tape.

"In times of adversity, we stand up and be counted. We believe in the players we have available and we are going to have to trust them. We will set up a plan for them and have a ‘go’."

After the Swallows game, Hunt said players were breaking down during matches with regular monotony.

"Every game this season from the start I have had to make changes before half-time," said Hunt.

"It is part and parcel of our lot this season. I have never seen anything like this."