Who can replace Blom internally?

With the Chiefs development product sale news coming somewhat out of the blue, as talk of a new contract was actually gaining momentum, Zwane had to quickly change his plans in a key area of the team. He has naturally been asked constantly by the media what he intends to do to fill the void left by the departure. He had the following to say: “We aren’t just going to beef up for the sake of bringing in players. If Samkelo (Zwane) will settle, we also played him in that position just to see how he can settle in terms of structure. He has the quality and the ability, there is no doubt about it. Remember there is still (Phathutshedzo) Nange, there is still Cole Alex

Samkelo Zwane

In the two matches since the resumption after the two-month World Cup hiatus, Zwane has started both matches. Against Golden Arrows, he gave a good account of himself with a high number of very ambitious long passes attempted, especially to switch play from left to right. Some of these were successful and got Frosler on the ball in high areas, but quite a few showed impatience and ended up with cheap giveaways. Even so, he is quite a mature player technically and physically and could have a big upside if he can save Chiefs from spending money on a Blom replacement. Against Sekhukhune, he had a tougher outing and was very fortunate not to concede an early penalty on Vusimuzi Mncube.

He was taken off in the second half, but he still put up some strong numbers in the match. He won both of his tackles, made four interceptions and picked up three loose balls. He has won six of nine defensive duels in his two starts. The surprising thing is that he has had relatively low involvement in both matches, making just 29 passes in each fixture. At this stage, he is still finding himself as a player and Amakhosi are not funnelling too much play through him at this early juncture. In coming weeks, especially with a big match against Downs on the horizon, some substitute appearances may suit him better to acclimatise to this level.

Phathutshedzo Nange

For the 31-year-old, the coach mentioning his name as an option to replace Blom will be of little solace. He has given the midfielder just two outings all season – one start and one substitute appearance. Even that lone start in the defeat to Cape Town City was a surprise because it is clear that Zwane simply doesn’t seem to rate or trust Nange as things stand. The irony about it is that the player was excelling at the back end of last season, earning praise and a Bafana call-up from Hugo Broos, who explained, “Me and my two assistants made a little report and every time we saw Nange playing and we said maybe one day we have to give him a chance because he is a powerful player and he is a good player in the midfield. Maybe again this is someone we have to give a chance and that’s the reason why he is here with us. It was in the game against Ghana and it was in the game against France... our midfield was not strong enough. We need some strong guys. But this is not the only reason.”

The proof is in the pudding though because since the post-World Cup resumption, Nange has not made the 20-man squad for either the Arrows or the Sekhukhune fixtures. Sabelo Radebe has been preferred to him on the bench, whilst Njabulo Ngcobo played the final few minutes against Arrows in the midfield holding role. The funny thing is that Nange would be an ideal Blom replacement. He has a good degree of energy, brings some extra height to defend set-plays (an Achilles heel for the Soweto giants at times) and is a strong passer and ball carrier. Under Baxter, he was key to the side as he so often found Dolly in the right half-space, arguably Chiefs’ key method of progressing the ball. He is more of a box-to-box player but can certainly play as a lone six these days as he gets older.

Sabelo Radebe

Mangethe seemed to really rate him as a player last season. In just seven matches as caretaker coach, Radebe was handed four starts. He played in a midfield two away at Stellenbosch FC in Zwane’s first match after replacing Baxter, so he is an option to take Blom’s spot. It’s just hard to see it happening because he’s barely had a kick this term, getting just a couple of outings from the bench and being an unused substitute on numerous occa Selecting Radebe in midfield perhaps not give the defensive that Chiefs require, certainly comparison to what Blom was He could play as a number though with Maart returning t as the lone number six.

Cole Alexander

Like Nange, the former Ajax Town and SuperSport Unite is out of favour. He hasn’t ma squad since the resumption d his name being dropped by the He has only had just over on of pitch time in the last 15 m and seems a certainty to dep the end of the season. In ter pure defensive nous, Alex would be able to do a reaso impression of what Blom was with a bit less intensity due age. He is tactically disciplin not really a genuine “lone six” lacks comfort in receiving th off the back four. He could p

the double pivot alongside Maart, but, frankly, Zwane doesn’t seem to think he suits the style of play and the coach may very well be spot-on.

Other options

Of course, at a club like Chiefs, there are many possible options in that midfield. Siyethemba Sithebe has played in a double pivot before and could adjust his high-energy game to play in a deeper role. He has somewhat fallen out of favour of late though and the engine room didn’t quite look balanced when he was alongside Maart. George Matlou is another option, though using him deep seems like a waste of his creativity and his final pass. He could play as a number eight, but that would require Maart to play as a lone holding player where his defensive attributes would be exposed. Njabulo Ngcobo is another option, having been used extensively in Blom’s old role by Baxter. At one point, he looked pretty good there, bringing the destructive qualities of the man he replaced, Katsande. “Roadblock” is a long way down the centre-back pecking order and could do a job in midfield, though you would lose some ball-handling and technical ability in tight spaces. Facing forward at centre-back gives you a full picture of the game, whereas a holding midfielder is often trying to play on the half-turn. One other option could also be Frosler, who is a very good passer with both feet and once played in midfield to a good level in a fixture against Sundowns. He could suit partnering Maart pretty well, with Solomons taking the right back role. And the final internal option is to play a really attacking set-up with Maart paired with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo in midfield. He has played in that deeper double pivot role before and has looked quite effective with his use of the ball, even though it leaves Amakhosi very open defensively.