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Baloyi looking forward to Chiefs-Sundowns clash

Cape Town - Games between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have grown in stature over the last two decades.

They are always hard fought battles on the pitch and Brian 'Spiderman' Baloyi knows all about it and, more importantly, he knows these clashes from both sides, having kept goal for the Amakhosi and the Brazilians.

Chiefs will host Sundowns in a crucial match at FNB Stadium on Saturday, April 1.

The sides, the one dressed in Gold and Black, the other in Yellow and Green, have also faced each other several times in cup games, including numerous finals.

Baloyi left Chiefs in 2004 for Sundowns and in that first season, the two titans met each other in the Charity Spectacular final. The match ended goalless. Again, penalties were to decide, with this time the Brazilians winning, 5-4. Baloyi stopped David Kannemeyer’s spot kick.

Baloyi hanged up his gloves in 2011, before returning as a goalkeeper coach to at Chiefs four years later, sitting on the bench during Chiefs’ 3-1 loss to Sundowns in the 2015 Telkom Knockout final.

"I was always a very sore loser,” Baloyi says with a wry grin on his face as quoted by the Kaizer Chiefs website.

"If we lost, I was in a bad mood for some hours. I thought that, sitting on the bench, as the goalkeeper coach, that feeling would be at least a bit less so. However, on the contrary, it was even worse."

'Spiderman' feels that the stature of clashes between Chiefs and Sundowns has risen immensely over the last 20 years or so.

"The Soweto Derby is still seen as the greatest game of the season, but I feel that, on paper, games against Sundowns are now huge as well, because often a league title or a cup is at play."

However, Baloyi feels that the culture between the two clubs is quite different.

"There is this winning culture at the Chiefs. And, as a Glamour Boy, everywhere you go, people recognize you. Also, independent whether the team plays at home or away, the stadium is always full.

"The Amakhosi supporters are amazing. It’s a special feeling they give you, which is difficult to explain in words.

"Sundowns, meanwhile, have excellent support in Tshwane, but have much less supporters outside the capital."

'Spiderman' is presently the assistant goalkeeper coach with the first team and also works with the talented young keepers in Amakhosi’s development structures.

"Chiefs and Sundowns are both vying for the league title," Baloyi looks ahead to the Absa Premiership fixture.

"It will be a game of immense importance with much at stake. I can’t wait for the match to kick-off. It promises to be a thriller and I expect our fans to turn up in numbers to support the team."

The two teams will meet in the league on April 1 after the completion of the international break, and Baloyi is well aware it could be influential in the PSL title race.

"The Soweto derby is still seen as the greatest game of the season, but I feel that, on paper, games against Sundowns are now huge as well, because often a league title or a cup is at play,"

"It will be a game of immense importance with much at stake. I can't wait for the match to kick-off. It promises to be a thriller and I expect our fans to turn up in numbers to support the team."

Kick off is at 20:15.

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