Muhsin Ertugral’s team may misfire at home (five losses in 11 matches), with their latest disappointment being the goalless draw against Platinum Stars at Loftus on Wednesday evening, but on the road they are yet to taste defeat.
However, that record could well be lost at Charles Mopeli Stadium. No team has picked up more points at home than Free State Stars, who have racked up eight wins and a draw from 11 games.
And Ea Lla Koto are unbeaten in six league matches since the turn of the year, picking up 12 out of a possible 18 points to keep up their remarkable showing near the top of the table; remember this is a team that was campaigning in the national First Division just one year ago.
In fact, Stars could be considered the dark horses for the title. They are just four points behind leaders Ajax Cape Town and should they continue their recent form they could well be in the reckoning for glory come May.
Coach Kinnah Phiri would probably discourage such thinking from his charges, but there is no doubt that his counterpart at Chiefs, Muhsin Ertugral, can only wish he could swop his team’s position on the log with Stars.
But there is some solace for Amakhosi: they produced perhaps their best performance of the league season against Stars on October 31 last year, winning 3-0, and they have a highly favourable head-to-head record with the Free State team.
In 16 league matches since 1996, Chiefs have won 11 matches to Stars’ one, and outscored Ea Lla Koto 26 goals to eight.
LAST FIVE RESULTS:Stars:Date H/A Opponent Result05/03/08 A Jomo Cosmos D 0-001/03/08 H Thanda Royal Zulu D 2-223/02/08 A Black Leopards W 2-120/02/08 H Bloemfontein Celtic W 1-016/02/08 A Golden Arrows D 2-2
Chiefs:05/03/08 H Platinum Stars D 0-001/03/08 A Ajax Cape Town D 1-123/02/08 H SuperSport United L 0-120/02/08 A BidVest Wits W 2-017/02/08 A Jomo Cosmos D 0-0
