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Kingston Nkhatha in action for Supersport

JOHANNESBURG. – SuperSport United striker Kingston Nkhatha said the boos of the Kaizer Chiefs fans spurred him on during his new side’s 2-0 win over the log leaders on Tuesday night. Chiefs’ unbeaten League run came crashing down as Jeremy Brockie and Dove Wome netted second-half goals for Matsatsanta, while Nkhatha was booed at every touch.

The Zimbabwean was also spotted on a few occasions asking the booers for more volume, and says the jeering actually helps him.

“It’s not new for me. The more they do that, they encourage me. I keep on playing the way I’m playing, it doesn’t change me or anything because me, I’m here to play for SuperSport. They are there to support Chiefs.

“So for me also if I can hear them doing that (booing), it’s a morale (boost) for me, I keep on pushing hard. And they also, they are pushing me to keep on going, keep on going . . .”

Nkhatha played down any sort of revenge talk, insisting that it’s now business as usual.

“Ja, it’s emotional playing against your old team, knowing that they were doing well and then we beat them, you know, it’s part of football. Life goes on . . .”

On the game, he added: “It wasn’t easy because Chiefs came with about five defenders at the back. We knew that they were gonna play like that because the last game they didn’t play well, even the coach (Stuart Baxter) also I think he was afraid that we were gonna come with two strikers.

“But overall I think it was a fair game because first half we didn’t play well, second half we played well. Then they played well first half, second half they didn’t play well. All in all I’m just happy we got three points.”

Meanwhile, Jabu Mahlangu heaped praise on Nkhatha following SuperSport United’s 2-0 win against Kaizer Chiefs last night.

The Zimbabwean international was not always the most popular player amongst Chiefs fans, but Mahlangu says he deserves some praise for the way which he dealt with it.

“It takes character to overcome the fans when they are against you,” ‘Shuffle’ said on SuperSport after the match last night.

“For me personally, before he moved to SuperSport, I felt this guy has a strong character because he was playing for Chiefs while they were booing him week in, week out.

“But he was performing, creating goal opportunities for Chiefs. If you see someone like this . . . this is a true soldier.” – KickOff.