Where coach could up Chiefs’ game

YET another defeat, this time to Cape Town City in the quarter-finals of the MTN8, has put Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela under an even bigger microscope.

There is no denying the man in charge needs to quickly find a winning formula or risk his tenure with the Glamour Boys coming to a premature end.

Key points have led to this poor start, and this is where Komphela must improve:

Make new signings count

The Chiefs coach hasn’t been brave enough. Yes, he gave strikers Lewis Macha and Edmore Chirambadare their full debuts against City, but a few more players should have made way for the new faces.

Komphela looked peeved when asked if he agreed he had started the season as he ended the previous one following defeat to Bidvest Wits in the Absa Premiership opener.

It is a sad reality at the moment. Komphela seems to believe he can still achieve better results with players that couldn’t retain the league title and finished fifth.

Tweak the pairing

It is not a

central defence

coincidence that Pitso Mosimane moved Ramahlwe Mphahlele to rightback while he was at Mamelodi Sundowns – he is more suited there than in the centre.

He drifted to the right side of defence and pushed further forward in the dying minutes of Friday night’s defeat in Cape Town, and was a much better option than Kgotso Moleko.

Despite being versatile, Mphahlele was seen as a direct replacement for Siboniso Gaxa, but has been partnering Lorenzo Gordinho in central defence.

Chiefs might be better off trying out Daniel Cardoso in that role, leaving Moleko on the bench and allowing Mphahlele to thrive in his usual position.

Bury the Xulu hatchet with

Another option in the middle of defence is Siyanda Xulu. He has, however, fallen out of favour with Komphela and was placed on the transfer list at the end of the previous season.

Now might be a good time to actually kiss and make up to find a solution, albeit temporary.

Perhaps if striker Edward Manqele, another player who was for sale, has been given a second chance, Xulu should also get another look-in.