Two nonentities play out a stalemate

● This encounter between two league title nonentities never threatened great heights, and in a bitterly cold wind that swept FNB Stadium last night Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu duly served up a 0-0 Absa Premiership stalemate out of the middle drawer.

Chiefs have naturally had to talk up their chances of winning the PSL, but, frankly, with performances as unconvincing as these, they should think again.

Coach Steve Komphela has finally built, after more than two-and-a-half years at Naturena, a team that can actually be called that — a team. But even now, nice guy and entertaining professor of English that he is, Komphela seems not to know how best to utilise the decent ammunition he has.

That Pule Ekstein — a midfielder with question marks over his technique and decision-making — can remain above January signing Siphelele Ntshangase in the pecking order coming off the bench is mystifying.

That Ntshangase is even on that bench as much so. It does not inspire confidence, and neither do flat performances and results at home to bottom-half dwellers such as last night’s. Amakhosi remained in sixth place.

Chiefs edged the first half, but far from convincingly. They had the clear-cut opportunities, both from set-pieces.

In the 15th minute, from a Siphiwe Tshabalala free-kick, Leonardo Castro elbowed space to get the header in, but would have been disappointed that it was inches off target past the left upright.

Just past the half-hour Bernard Parker’s free-kick found the head of Teenage Hadebe, who did find the target, Energy Murambadoro palming onto his upright.

For AmaZulu, the energetic midfielder Siyethemba Mnguni’s drive was struck powerfully past Itumeleng Khune’s left post.

Komphela tried to shake up the stalemate, bringing on Ekstein in the 49th minute, and Ryan Moon for Parker in the 52nd.

Soon after this Tshabalala struck a drive at Murambadoro. For AmaZulu, Sbusiso Mbalisa squared from the left for Ovidy Karuru to hit wide. Usuthu had another chance when the corner flag kept the ball in, allowing Karuru to dispossess Willard Katsande and find Mnguni, who struck well to force a stop from Khune.

Ntshangase replaced left wingback Philani Zulu in the 65th minute.

From his introduction the former Baroka FC playmaker at least looked a player, unlike most of those who had started for Chiefs, capable of conjuring something.

But he was given only 25 minutes to do that.