Kaizer Chiefs seek decisive result in CAF Champions Cup clash against Zamalek in Egypt

The stature of Zamalek SC in continental football will not faze Kaizer Chiefs when the two teams meet in a crunch CAF Confederation Cup group-stage clash at Suez Canal Stadium on Saturday (6pm kick-off).

The White Knights have ruled the continent on five occasions, having won the Champions League, while they have also claimed the Confederation Cup, making them one of the most successful clubs in Africa.

They currently find themselves chasing their third Confederation Cup title, and a second in three seasons. But first, they need to get past the group stage to reach the knockout rounds and, ultimately, the final.

Standing in their way are Chiefs, who currently top Group D with 10 points, two ahead of the White Knights, who will host them in the final round of round-robin matches in Ismailia on Valentine’s Day.

The permutations are simple for Chiefs: secure a win or a draw and qualify for the knockout stage. Zamalek, meanwhile, will need to grind out a win to seal their passage to the next round, depending on the outcome of the clash between Al Masry SC and Zesco United.

Speaking to the club’s official website on the eve of the clash, striker Flavio Silva painted a picture of what they expect from the encounter and the approach they will adopt.

“They are a big team with experience of playing at this level, but we are not daunted by them,” Silva explained.

“We have our mission and we are only focused on getting the result we need to go through. We expect a tough game, but we are ready for the fight.

“It is a clash between two of the biggest clubs in Africa, so the vibe around this game is like a cup final – and that’s how we are viewing it.”

Chiefs feel they deserve to be where they are at the moment – on the verge of qualification – given all the challenges they have overcome earlier in the season, including the departure of coach Nasreddine Nabi.

“It’s an important moment for us. We have had a long journey to get here and we are fully focused on what we have to do because we want to progress to the next round,” Silva added.

Silva has been one of the driving forces behind Chiefs’ recent strides, including their pursuit of the Betway Premiership title on home soil, having scored six goals in 17 matches across all competitions.

Be that as it may, the Guinea-Bissau international is not done – he knows he has to continue finding the back of the net, as that is the primary way strikers help their teams win matches.

“I want to score more to help the team,” said Silva. “As a striker, it is my job to do that, but the fact that we have quality players creating chances is a big help. We are getting better and I am sure more goals will come.”

Jeered by some Chiefs fans and arch-rivals after an underwhelming pre-season camp in the Netherlands and on home soil, Silva is slowly proving his doubters wrong.

As a result, he wants to be an all-round team player on and off the field, including contributing defensively – although that led to him committing a foul and conceding a penalty when Chiefs lost 2–1 to Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup last 32 in Cape Town a week ago.

“Although my main task is to put the ball in the net, we still have a purpose as a team, which is to win. So I also have defensive duties, and I am happy to contribute to the benefit of the team in every way I can,” he said.

Silva will have to do exactly that, especially with Kaizer Chiefs set to be without defensive pair Aden McCarthy and Inacio Miguel for the clash in Ismailia due to suspension and injury, respectively.