A warrior war for Chiefs

The slogan of Kumasi Asante Kotoko is Kum Apem A Apem Beba. Translated into English, it means: If you kill a thousand, a thousand more shall arise.

It is the war cry of the Ashante Warriors, and since Kotoko is the club of the Ashante king, the slogan is even more significant in its meaning.

More than anything, the Mighty Porcupines from Kumasi, Ghana, will have to be at their best when they take on Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge on Sunday afternoon.

The match takes place at Mmabatho Stadium and kicks off at 3pm.

In the early match at 12.30pm Orlando Pirates take on FC Lupopo from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Last season Chiefs started off their domestic campaign by annexing the Vodacom Challenge, winning the smartly carved kudu horn for a second year in succession.

If they take the trophy this time around they will be able to keep it and add it to the already impressive haul of trophies they have won over the years already.

But, there is one trophy that Chiefs are eyeing this season, one that has eluded them for the last 11 years.

Muhsin Ertugral has made it clear that this season the focus will be on the league title and that everything else will be secondary.

While Chiefs will be will be focusing their attentions on the league, Kotoko want to use the tournament as a dress rehearsal for for an assault on the African Cup Winners Cup.

Kotoko reached the quarterfinal of the competition when they knocked out another South African side, Santos.

Since the first Vodacom final in 1999, the trophy has not yet left South Africa, with Orlando Pirates winning the inaugural tournament in Durban.

Last year Pirates were edged out by Kotoko with the knockout blow coming from the aptly named Joe Louis, a striker who will be in action again in this tournament.

Pirates know very little about their opponents, but there should be little that will prevent the Sea Robbers from moving into next week's final.

Pirates are likely to be without captain and inspirational defender Gerald Raphalela, and in his absence Willem Jackson will most likely take over the captaincy.