Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka has stressed the importance of being mentally strong at this stage of the season if they are to secure their first league title in three years.

The Soweto giants recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday evening which saw them go within touching distance of log-leaders Bidvest Wits despite having played two more league matches than the Clever Boys.

Maluleka proved instrumental in Chiefs’ victory and was subsequently named man-of-the-match after helping Chiefs extend their unbeaten streak to 13 consecutive games across all competitions.

Despite edging closer to the summit of the Absa Premiership standings, Maluleka has called for complete focus in his side’s remaining games if they are to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns of the league title.

‘At this stage of this stage of the season, that’s what it’s all about, it’s just the mental fitness and that what’s we are doing now,’ Maluleka said in post-match comments.

‘Mentally strong to go all the way and were just taking one game at the time.’

The 28-year-old acknowledged that it wasn’t easy to see off a resilient Celtic side, in addition to commenting on the state of the pitch at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium.

‘I want to thank the technical team and my teammates. The boys did very well tonight, but we had to grind because it wasn’t easy to play on this field.’

‘We knew it was going to be dirty and that’s what we did, we got the three points and that’s what is important,’ he concluded.

Chiefs will look to extend their good run of form when they host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday, April 15 at 18:00.

Image: Gerhard Steenkamp/BackpagePix