We also need to be careful
Beaver Nazo: ‘Mashamplan’, you played in many key cup games for Kaizer Chiefs in your heyday and endeared yourself to the Amakhosi faithful with your hearty displays. The attention this week is on Chiefs v Chippa United, who are vying for a spot in the Nedbank Cup final. Firstly, if you were Ernst Middendorp, what approach would you use on Saturday?
Robson Muchichwa:
Normally, I wouldn’t like to go into details as to who must or must not play, but players that are at Chiefs now need to be true Chiefs players and deliver. The approach has to be an attacking one. Chiefs needs to attack to win the game, simple as that.
BN: It’s interesting you say that because the coach has been criticised for benching a player like Siphelele Ntshangase and for his defensive tactics…
RM:
I am worried because that boy is one of the best ball passers in the country. The boy comes close to Doctor Khumalo with his vision for long and short passes. But the German style sometimes doesn’t suit him and I am afraid he might not enjoy his football (under Middendorp). The best form of defending at Chiefs is to attack. The Chiefs I know has never been a defensive team and, in order to win games, you need to attack. Ntshangase adds that bit of creativity in the team and I would prefer him over Dax (Andriamirado Andrianarimanana). But with the defensive style that the team is using, well, maybe that is why the boy is not playing. If I were Middendorp, I was going to play him as my surprise card for this semifinal.
BN: The pressure is mounting on Middendorp, as the Soweto giants don’t seem likely to win the league and this is his last chance at silverware this season.
RM:
I doubt anything will happen to him now. I mean, Chiefs don’t usually rush into firing coaches, unless something tragic happens, like what happened at Moses Mabhida Stadium during Steve Komphela’s time. And I think, to his credit, Middendorp has brought some light into the team after Giovanni Solinas nearly destroyed it. I think they will let him finish this season, irrespective of the results.
BN: To his credit, he’s freshened the team up with the introduction of youngsters, who’ve done well. Can they step up to the plate and help Chiefs win this trophy?
RM:
Yes, and that is very good to see, but my worry is that there might be a reliance on them and you don’t need that, especially in games of this magnitude. Yes, we need new blood in the team, but we also need to be careful how we go about it. The problem is that Chiefs is a winning team. Their supporters expect nothing other than a win and I am afraid that might be too much (to handle) for the youngsters.
BN: Most of Chiefs’ goals have come from midfielders and defenders in recent times, with their strikers MIA (missing in action). It must be a concern!
RM:
It is sad, but that it is not only Chiefs’ problem, but the whole country’s problem. If midfielders are getting on the score sheet and defenders add to that, then its good, but the goal ratio of the team seems to be a problem lately. They are just simply not scoring. Even in this competition, they only scored four goals and look who they played. Getting goals is a bit of a challenge and, sadly, in a cup competition you need to score goals to win. BN: Khama Billiat blows hot and cold. RM:
You know what, players like Khama need to be protected by the coach. He is a player who can do wonders and win you a game. All the teams that play Chiefs now plan around shutting Billiat. He is not a machine and he also gets tired sometimes. Billiat is a player that can help Chiefs win this trophy. He is on form now for both club and country, but the Chiefs coach needs to protect him because it can’t be that he is the one being criticized when he has players around him that don’t perform.
BN: What advice can you give to them ahead of Saturday’s showdown?
RM:
There’s nothing else I can say other than they need to go out there and fight for the club. That is why you need quality players that tick all the boxes at a massive club like Chiefs, players with strong character. They are now in a space where if you make mistakes you don’t really come back easily. They need to fight and prove to the people doubting them that they deserve to play for Chiefs.
BN: Thank you for your time and let’s hope for a good game.
RM: Sure, brother, thank you.