MANAGEMENT DECISIONS COSTS CHIEFS
minenhle.mkhize.com
KAIZER Chiefs are paying a huge price for the departure on Brilliant Khuzwayo who is now in the books of their bitter rivals, Orlando Pirates.
Khuzwayo left Amakhosi for free in June. The Glamour Boys had an option of renewing his contract but both parties failed to reach a mutual agreement.
Khuzwayo was deputising for the incumbent, Itumeleng Khune at Chiefs. He always delivered the goods for Amakhosi in the absence of Khune.
All Khuzwayo wanted was the balance in terms of game time. He wanted assurance that he will play cup games and Khune will be in the posts during the league matches.
Chiefs deemed that option as an obsolete idea.
They had set their sights on this ‘flop’ called Virgil Vries. Baroka deemed Vries surplus to requirements but Chiefs still decided to sign him.
Blunders have been very consistent in his game ever since he arrived in South Africa from Namibia.
Chiefs should have agreed to Khuzwayo’s demands because these things do happen in football. They do it in England and Spain for an example.
Manchester United uses David De Gea for league matches and Sergio Romero is preferred for domestic cup games.
Barcelona does the same in Spain. Marc Andre Stegen plays league games and then Jasper Cillessen is used for cup matches.
This system is working perfectly and is fair for all the parties.
These are all quality goalminders. They all deserve game time and rotation policy doesn’t kill anyone but it makes everyone happy.
Chiefs have endured turbulent times in the absence of Khune. Khune is out for the rest of the season. He is a colossal figure in that Chiefs set-up.
Vries cost Amakhosi a precious six points which could have made a huge difference in their pursuit for league honours.
Daniel Akpeyi also committed an error this past weekend against Polokwane City and Chiefs dropped another two valuable points.
When Khuzwayo was still with Chiefs, this wasn’t happening. Instead his performance earned him a place in the Bafana set up.
That’s how good Khuzwayo was.
Chiefs are paying a huge price for letting Khuzwayo go easily. They wouldn’t be facing this conundrum if Khuzwayo was still around.
When Khuzwayo burst into the scenes in 2014, he single-handedly won Amakhosi the MTN8 against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
He was the difference between Pirates lifting the cup.
Khuzwayo was flawless that night. He never looked back.
The opportunity to showcase his talent came after the injury of Khune. This is very new in the history of Amakhosi.
If there is one team that used to be blessed with talented goalkeepers in South Africa, it is none other than Chiefs.
From the generation of Gary Bailey, William Shongwe, Eshele Botende, Brian Baloyi, Rowen Fernandez, Emile Baron, Khune and Arthur Bartman.
Kabelo Metsimetsi and Markus Bocsker are the last flops, I can remember.