Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral is confident his team will get the better of Madagascar side US Transfoot in their African Cup Winners Cup first leg tie scheduled for the Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday night in a match that will be broadcast live by SuperSport 3.

Although little is known about the cup winners from Madagascar, Ertugral said he received information from his "connections" based in Tanzania and they have given valuable information about the visitors.

"I'm neither taking anything away from them," said Ertugral, "nor dismissing them as opponents. But I have been reliably informed that defensively they are sound and attack with three players.

"The information at my disposal is that their central striker is a very strong, forceful and aggressive fellow who needs close attention, but otherwise, we should be okay and I'm satisfied about our preparations."

Although Chiefs went on a magic carpet ride, winning everything on offer as they appeared on course to recapture their former glory, they went through a terrible slump soon after been crowned the Nelson Mandela Cup winners.

Although sometimes frustrated by the fact that the team performed exceptionally well but failed to convert their chances, Ertugral never lost confidence in his troops and was convinced it was only a matter of time before they turned the corner.

Last week's emphatic 3-1 victory over stubborn Ajax Cape Town was the kind

of performance that left a smile of satisfaction on Ertugral's face who

later disclosed happy days are back again.

"I have never doubted the team, their abilities or technical awareness,"

said Ertugral. "But last week's performance was perhaps the turning point

and what pleased me more was the commitment from every single player on the

pitch."

After winning four trophies since the season started, everyone has written

them off for the league championship following the number of points they

dropped during an indifferent period where they won only twice in almost

nine matches!

"Look, there are still eight more games to go and 24 points at stake.

Football is such a funny game, such an unpredictable game that who knows

what would happen if we win at least six or seven of those games?"

Indeed who knows what would happen should that be the case. But Chiefs will

have to show that they have indeed turned the corner against US Transfoot on

Saturday and Al Ahly in the Super Cup in Cairo next week.

They then travel to Antananarivo for the second leg match against US

Transfoot and on their return, face Moroka Swallows in a mid-week Castle

League match and Sundowns three days later!