Proof is in the pudding
SOLINAS: COACH PROMISED HE WOULD SORT THINGS OUT – NOW WE’LL SEE
McCarthy aims to shove Bobby’s words down his throat.
Kaizer Chiefs have used the Fifa break to sharpen up but whether it worked or not can only be evidenced at the Cape Town Stadium at 3pm this afternoon where Giovanni Solinas’ Amakhosi meet Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City in an Absa Premiership clash.
Since Solinas’ arrival, Chiefs have looked better, especially up front, but a leaky defence remained a huge blot on the underachieving side.
Solinas had called for patience, saying he would work on the problem once he had some free time and the break afforded him that opportunity.
Midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase said they worked on tactics.
“We worked a lot on our shape … where to be on the pitch at what time in relation to the ball and your opponent,” said the 25-yearold.
Ntshangase promised a lot when he joined Amakhosi in January but failed to live up to expectations. He has however shown glimpses of being a future star for the Glamour Boys with some telling touches and decisive passes in the eight matches Chiefs have played this season.
“I didn’t get many opportunities to play last season, so I am happy to get game-time this time, although I am not as yet entirely happy with my performances. I need to get better and I am working hard at training to do that,” he said.
The pressure is increasing on the team who have failed to register a win in five league matches and there will be no relief today if City coach McCarthy has anything to do with it. McCarthy said Chiefs are a wounded animal – dangerous, but also vulnerable.
“We’ve been labelled as the “David” in this type of clash very often. For us it’s just 11 v 11 players. The fact is that we have 11 hungry lions ready to feast on a wounded animal on the other side,” said McCarthy.
The 40-year-old mentor said he holds a grudge against Chiefs from the time their manager Bobby Motaung said he was a spent force when there were rumours he would join them while he was a player a few years ago.
“I guess you can still say that whenever I play against Chiefs – even now as a coach – they know I will be out to hurt them,” he said.
Also see Pages 45 & 46