Mashiane happy to have turned the corner
Mashiane happy to have turned the corner

Posted in News, Team News on Jan 21, 2021.

Happy Mashiane who has been key to Kaizer Chiefs in their last three league games which has seen Amakhosi record three successive league wins, is pleased that the club has turned the corner after a difficult start to the season. The new season saw them win just one of their opening nine league games prior to their current run of victories.

The 23-year-old equally comfortable as a left back or winger is remaining grounded and hoping for the team to continue fighting the way they have in recent games. He is hoping that Chiefs can record a fourth straight DStv Premiership win when they travel to the Western Cape for the second weekend in a row - this time to face Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

“These recent wins are a great motivation for us,” explains an eager Mashiane. “Knowing very well that we did not start the season on a high, things were not going our way in terms of getting the right results.”

Chiefs have recorded victories against Amazulu, Cape Town City and their first home league win of the current campaign in their last game against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Prior to the three victories, they went on a seven games winless streak.

Mashiane made his official first team debut for Amakhosi two years ago in January 2019. He says that he is glad to have been assisted by the coaching staff as he has been impactful for Chiefs in recent games, scoring two goals in his last two league outings and making one assist.

“I have to thank the technical team for pushing me,” he says. “I am not saying things are rosy now for me or the team, but credit should be given to them for pushing me in terms of me being back and playing.”

While Mashiane and Chiefs have hit a good patch of results, the influential winger does feel that the team knows that they will be in for a challenging test on Saturday afternoon in the picturesque town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.

“Knowing very well that we are playing Stellenbosch on Saturday, it will not be an easy game,” he warns.  “They are a playing team. They will be motivated to do well after their last result and so will we - which will make for a good game.”

This is the second weekend in a row that Chiefs will be playing in the Western Cape. Mashiane was on target last weekend when Chiefs defeated Cape Town City 2-1 in the Mother City.

“We are playing away from home and we have to go there and grind out the result,” he adds. “We have to comeback with maximum points. They have good speedy players, and we are aware of that. Whatever they bring at us, we will be ready.”

Mashiane feels that Chiefs have put behind them their tough start to the campaign and are looking to forge ahead saying.  “We as a team we have rectified some of our mistakes and minimised certain errors,” he reveals. “I think going forward, we do not want to find ourselves in the situation again. It is crucial that we must keep calm and keep our feet on the ground. We really need to work hard at reclaiming the glory and staying in the top half of the table.”

Chiefs and Stellenbosch faced each other in league games twice last season. The corresponding fixture at the Cape Town Stadium on 27 November 2019 saw Chiefs win 4-0, while in the second game during the Bio-bubble the game ending 1-1 at Orlando Stadium on 23 August 2020.

The match on Saturday will be live on DStv Channel 202 at 17:00.

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