Frustrated coach has work to do
It was another very disappointing result for Kaizer Chiefs this weekend. One would have thought, after exiting the Telkom Knockout against Orlando Pirates, there would have been a reaction. They played well in the Caf Confederation Cup against Zimamoto, but they are not a top-level side.
Chiefs only came alive against Arrows in the second half. I think the state of the field played a big role in the way it panned out. Chiefs are a team that play through their midfield, but because of the pitch, they were not allowed to play their way.
The first penalty was bit harsh, but the second one was definitely a penalty. Teams have now discovered how they can test the Chiefs defence. Lerato Lamola “cheated” well, but there was a plan from Arrows that when Ramahlwe Mphahlele moves out of position, there was space they could exploit. When the two central defenders moved across they found themselves blocking each other’s lines, Erick Mathoho came across to cover and that is why Chiefs conceded the second.
If you don’t score a lot, but are getting the odd goal and are picking up points, you find yourself under less pressure, but because Chiefs are conceding all the time it puts them on the back foot. For the first time in a long time Giovanni Solinas showed a bit of frustration. Now pressure is mounting on him. Chiefs were expected to win – with their form in their last 12 games. Arrows had only won two previous league games, so in terms of form and points racked up, nobody expected them to win.
Chiefs should get through to the next round of the Caf Confederation Cup though. Solinas has to find the right combination at the back. Daniel Cardoso was their best defender last season, but had a shaky start to this season. However, I think he could solve Chiefs’ defensive woes. I would partner him with Mathoho.
Rivaldo Coetzee’s return to the Mamelodi Sundowns first team is a great testament to the MDC. He has played a few games, and is nowhere near his best, but his quality is playing out from the back, like Ricardo Nasciemento, they start the play for Sundowns. I am so happy for Coetzee that he’s back. It is very difficult going from expecting to play for Glas- gow Celtic in a Champions League game against Barcelona, it not working out and being dropped. This is sometimes where a player goes off the rails, be it over-eating, drug abuse or womanising. It is a mental thing, if you are not careful you don’t come back and I am so happy he made a comeback.
Sundowns are slowly gaining momentum, the big plus is that they have Jeremy Brockie back on form, he is starting to understand the Sundowns way.
When he doesn’t drop too deep, he is more effective and is starting to understand the guys around him. He is more effective when he is in and around the box and with him being the point of reference, players around him also get goals, the likes of Lebo Maboe, Gaston Sirino and Themba Zwane.
Brockie’s resurgence is assisting the Sundowns turnaround. We have stopped talking about Khama Billiat and Percy Tau and are now seeing other combinations like Maboe and Sirino.
I like Sirino in the middle, but when Sundowns play with three behind the striker they have a lot of mobility so it doesn’t matter where the players end up.