Hughes expecting another tough match

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is expecting another tough Vodacom Challenge clash when his star-studded side face Kaizer Chiefs at Durban's Absa Stadium tomorrow night. Kick-off is at 8.15pm.

Hughes was speaking after his leg-weary troops were well-beaten 2-0 by a lively Orlando Pirates in the opening Challenge match at a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Bucs' win added to the celebrations of Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday and the 10th anniversary of the Challenge.

'I expect more of the same from Chiefs. But this is how it should be,' Hughes said.

Hughes admitted that Pirates were quicker to the ball than his players, who have just returned to full training after their break.

City striker Craig Bellamy admitted that City were surprised by the pace of Pirates who ran them into the ground at times.

Bellamy stressed his decision to join City and rejoin Hughes, for whom he played at Blackburn Rovers and Wales, was the right decision. He said he was keen to end his career on a high note with the big spending City who have added Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Adebayor and possibly Chelsea captain John Terry to their pre-season signings.

Hughes said he might change a few players - such as his two new signings, striker Carlos Tevez and England midfielder Gareth Barry - against Amakhosi, but he was not considering using his other new striker, Roque Santa Cruz, just yet.

None of the three new signings featured against the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Adebayor has denied that money was the reason for swapping Arsenal for Eastlands.

The 25-year-old Togo international, who signed a five-year-deal in £25 million (R330m) transfer on Saturday, instead said medals and glory sealed the deal.

The 2008 African Footballer of the Year did not win a trophy with Arsenal after a 2006 move from AS Monaco to Arsene Wenger's side. - Sapa