Giovanni Solinas: Kaizer Chiefs have good players but not a good coach

Ahead of his first Soweto Derby match this weekend, Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas has admitted that facing Orlando Pirates will be special.

Although Solinas admits it will be a special affair because their old rivals are playing good football, he said they will have to prepare well for the match which is set to be staged at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s a special game for the coach. It’s a special game for the players, it’s a special game for the club. It’s also a special game for the supporters,” Solinas said to the media.

Despite leading Free State Stars in the past few seasons, Solinas is set to taste his first Soweto Derby, and he has praised Milutin Sredojevic for the job he has done at the Sea Robbers.

Moreover, Solinas will not be the only figure in the Chiefs camp that is set to participate in his first Soweto Derby, but players such as Khama Billiat, goalkeeper Virgil Vries and defender Godfrey Walusimbi are in contention for the match while Lebogang Manyama and Andriamirado Andrianarimana remain sidelined through injuries.

“So, we need to prepare very well for this game. It’s a very difficult game because Pirates play well with good players and a fantastic coach,” he praised.

“When you play against a team with good players and good coach, it’s difficult. But, Kaizer Chiefs also have good players. Not a good coach, but good players,” concluded the coach.

On the other hand, Solinas could also be faced with a shortage of options upfront with news that Colombian hitman Leonardo Castro only returned to the training ground on Monday and hasn't fully recovered from his knee injury. 

Meanwhile, goalkeeper and skipper Itumeleng Khune is set to make his return to the starting eleven after he was rested in their match against Black Leopards in the Telkom Knockout Cup last Sunday.