To be a big club, Mamelodi Sundowns needed to beat Kaizer Chiefs, says Ace Khuse

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to lock horns with Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

The clash promises to be an exciting and thrilling encounter as in recent times it has become one of the premier fixtures on the South African football calendar. But with Sundowns looking to avenge their previous defeat to Amakhosi earlier in the season, this only adds to the premise of what Chiefs legend Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse expects to be an absorbing affair.

“That’s because Sundowns had that urge to become a big club, like Chiefs, and to be able to achieve that they needed to beat us,” Khuse told Phakaaathi.

“Chiefs, on the other hand, never want to lose against anyone. That vibe of two teams wanting to be the best makes these games so interesting,” he continued.

Khuse himself is no stranger to playing against the Brazilians, having played against them several times throughout his career.  Most notably, he was involved in one of the most exciting battles between the two clubs when they locked horns in the 1992 BP Top Eight Cup final, a match where Khuse was constantly booed by the opposition fans.

 “That put, of course, some additional pressure on me. On the other hand, I knew what to expect and I was ready for it. Fani Madida whipped the ball into the box and I tapped the ball into the goal with a half-volley. I was so excited that I went on a long run behind the goal,” he recalled.

“It was such a competitive game. They pressed us a lot. However, in the end, we got a chance and we finished it. We had an incredibly strong side in those years,” Khuse said

 “The players were disciplined, there was unity, togetherness and that winning mentality – the spirit was so high,” he indicated.

“Look at that Top Eight final against Sundowns. The win was purely a team effort. They had the upper hand for most of the match, but we fought and we had that ambition. We had that will to win," Khuse added.

“It’s one of those game I always look forward to. Especially now that we really have a momentum going with the team having won four of their last five league matches," he explained.

“We have a lot of quality in the team, including several youngsters with the right attitude. Saturday’s match will be a big one. I can’t wait,” he concluded.