Chiefs’ impressive pre-season form prompted many to tip them for the league championship and that was hardly surprising.

They had after all defeated the expensively assembled English Premiership side Manchester City and rivals Orlando Pirates and also played well against the Iranian national team.

But Amakhosi failed to take that form into their league campaign and currently find themselves nine points behind leaders SuperSport United.

Frankly, Chiefs have looked nothing like title contenders. They have won only two games in succession this season and have failed to win against other title contenders. They lost twice to United in the league and also lost to Moroka Swallows.

They failed to overcome Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. They also star ed defeat in the face against Mpumalanga Black Aces until a last- minute goal by Siphiwe Tshabalala spared them what would have been an embarrassing defeat.

Without taking anything , a team as big as Chiefs with title ambitions should not struggle against them.

Against AmaZulu, they are facing another inconsistent club who appear to be a shadow of their former selves.

They finished last season on eighth place but this season, under former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey, they have found the going tough.

Allegations of racism have not helped matters and only three points separate them and second-from-bottom Aces.

They lost to Maritzburg United at the weekend and might find the going difficult away to Chiefs. Captain Pere Ariweriyai and new signing Siphiwe Mkhonza will have their work cut out for them by the likes of Abia Nale and midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane .