Opposition Set-plays

These involve corner kicks, direct freekicks, wide (lateral) freekicks and long throws leading to a goal against Chiefs. Penalty kicks are not included as the phase of play in which the penalty was won is used instead.

Chiefs this season have conceded six times from set-play scenarios – four times from corners, once from a wide freekick and once from a long throw. The latter two were perhaps the most galling. Against SuperSport, Anthony Agay pulled back Thamsanqa Gabuza from a lateral freekick delivery and conceded a penalty to cost Chiefs two points. Earlier in the season, Amakhosi conceded from a long throw against Maritzburg as Dan Morgan caught Ramahlwe Mphahlele sleeping and found Judas Moseamedi to finish from close range. Chiefs have largely defended corners very well in terms of their marking duties despite conceding four times from them as three of those goals were clear errors by the goalkeeper. Khune missed the ball for Peter Shalulile to head home in the opening match of the season and he later punched an AmaZulu corner straight up in the air for Lehlohonolo Majoro to score the winning goal in February. The other error came as Daniel Akpeyi flapped at thin air for Nathan Sinkala to head home for Stellenbosch FC earlier this month. The final goal conceded was when a corner was kept alive in that same match against Stellies. Chiefs fell asleep and pushed too many men out, allowing Phathutshedzo Nange to head home unmarked after Stanley Dimgba had beaten Frosler one-versus-one on the outside and delivered a cross.

Goalkeeping howlers

One of the recurring themes this season has been the regular mistakes made by Chiefs’ goalkeepers that led directly to goals. Khune made those two howlers from corners and two very poor mistakes in giving the ball straight to opposition attackers inside his own half to allow tap-ins for Karuru and Grobler. He also conceded a penalty in the opening match against Sundowns for a foul on George Maluleka. To be fair to him, the defending was awful for

that goal as an easy ball into the channel was allowed and Amakhosi’s midfield and attack never bothered to sprint back to help their backline. Akpeyi also made a howler this season against Stellenbosch, which cost him his place, whilst he was also sent off in the CAF Champions League. After an excellent campaign under Middendorp where he was given the confidence that he is the number one, his displays have dipped with greater uncertainty under Hunt.

Recruitment to help?

When Chiefs’ transfer ban ends, it is clear that Hunt will look to sign several new defenders. Sifiso Hlanti is already said to be on board and is a vastly experienced option at left back even though he has struggled to get into the Swallows starting XI. Other players linked with the Soweto giants in the defensive areas are Brandon Peterson in goal, Goodman Mosele as some desperately needed defensive midfield shielding of the backline and Buhle Mkhwanazi, who has not played all season after a dispute over his clearance from Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC. Other players linked are Keenan Phillips and Luke Fleurs from SuperSport. Both would give some much-needed pace and youth to a creaking backline with mostly players deep into their 30s.

Defenders win titles

It’s been a terrible defensive season for Chiefs and Hunt has spoken with frustration and bemusement on several occasions over the soft goals conceded. Despite all the individuals errors, which will hopefully be ironed out, the problem can most easily be summarized as being one of player quality (with many of the defenders past their peak) and poor protection from the midfielders and wide players in front of them. Once Hunt can get a good defensive midfielder to partner Blom instead of using Bernard Parker or Katsande, the centre-backs will be less exposed. Once the coach can get genuine wingers into the squad, his fullbacks won’t be left overloaded constantly. That’s not to say the coach is not also very muchtoblame.Intheshort-term, Hunt has provided the blueprint for better defensive displays: selecting a more defensive line-up and sitting deeper, with a counter-attacking style used. When Chiefs did that against Pirates, they burgled a 1-0 win. Against Sundowns, they played a back five and had eight players down the centre of the pitch to block off Masandawana. It certainly worked well to limit Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena’s men to maybe only three clear openings. Against other teams, Chiefs can perhaps tinker slightly to be more proactive, but going into the halftime at 0-0 and winning matches with late goals may be the way to secure a Top Eight finish and maybe even go even further in the CAF Champions League. As the old saying goes, “Attackers win matches, defenders win titles.” ❐