Venezuelan Paez brings team hope
KAIZER Chiefs coach Steve Komphela presented new striker Gustavo Paez to the media yesterday‚ but was at pains to stress to their fans not to expect too much of the Venezuelan too quickly.
Paez was presented with the No 28 jersey at an open media day at their Naturena headquarters.
The scoring problems of Chiefs’ strikers have been well documented‚ with the imminent release of two of them – Edward Manqele and Siphelele Mthembu – an indication of that.
However, Komphela stressed that Paez was not a quick fix and that the Amakhosi’s expectant fans needed to give the Venezuelan time to adjust to the club and to South African football.
“I hope everything works well for you‚” Komphela told Paez.
To the media‚ the coach had some words of caution: “But Paez is not the answer. He’s just part of the solution in the scoring of goals.
“Sometimes we put a heavy weight on these players, saying: ‘He’s the answer’. There are no answers in football‚ only solutions.”
Chiefs have not done too badly on the scoring charts in the 2016-17 season – and with 18 goals, are joint-third along with five other teams on the same goal-scoring number.
But their top scorers are defender Lorenzo Gordinho and winger George Lebese with three goals apiece.
The club believe that, had their strikers not misfired, the Amakhosi could be sitting in better than fourth place in the Premier League going into the second half of the season.
Travelling on an Italian passport, Paez – who is quick and confident in front of goal – is seen as a potential solution to that weakness‚ given time.
The striker said: “I’m very happy to be here at Chiefs.
“It’s as the coach says: it’s not an answer, but I will try to give my best for the team and all the players and fans.”
Chiefs resume from the Christmas and Africa Cup of Nations break with their league match against Free State Stars at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Komphela said Paez would be available for that match.