Kaizer Chiefs left back Tsepo Masilela has urged Amakhosi to start the campaign strongly and focus on winning silverware for coach Steve Komphela.

The Glamour Boys played to a 1-1 draw with Botswana side Township Rollers over the weekend at the Francistown Sport Complex.

The Rollers opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through Segolame Boy. However, Amakhosi pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Gustavo Paez set up George Lebese, who neatly slotted the ball into the net as the match ended in a stalemate.

The 32-year-old has urged Amakhosi to put their previous campaign behind them and focus on starting the 2017-18 season off strongly.

‘The stronger you start, the better. We don’t want to be in a situation where we are playing catch-up. Once you start strong, it gives you that cushion, even throughout the season where you hit a slump,’ Masilela told KickOff.com.

‘You know that you have started strong, that you have enough points or you have already won a [knockout competition] trophy. That extra cushion is important.

‘There’s always pressure, but you play with less pressure [when you have points in the bag]. But if you are playing catch-up, if you lose a game, the gap becomes eight [points], if you lose, the gap becomes 11 [points]. [So] We would love to start strong.’

Masilela insists that the players want to win trophies for Komphela, but also for the clubs’ brand and the supporters.

‘It’s the coach’s third season and we have to deliver. As players we know coaches and players go and some get transferred and others don’t get their contracts renewed, but we are just focused on the job at hand,’ he added.

‘The coach has said that we should never worry about putting him there. Obviously, we want to win something for him, but we should do it for the brand and the Kaizer Chiefs fans. We should do it for people.’

Kaizer Chiefs are now set to take on Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in their mouth-watering Carling Black Label Champion Cup clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.