Chiefs’ declining backline

Without doubt, the peak from Kaizer Chiefs’ defensive record and the performances of their defenders came in the 2014/15 season under Stuart Baxter. With just 14 goals conceded and an incredible 19 clean sheets in 30 matches, they were arguably the best defensive unit that South African football had seen. It was never likely that those performances could be maintained, but the defensive record since then has been far from good enough and a big reason why the Soweto giants have not won a league title for six years. In the first two seasons under Steve Komphela – who lost Tefu Mashamaite from that title-winning back four – Chiefs conceded 30 and 28 goals respectively. The coach had promoted Lorenzo Gordinho from a promising young back-up to a first choice alongside

Erick Mathoho. For his third season, Komphela oversaw a big defensive improvement, with 18 goals conceded in 27 league matches. That came as a result of the coach switching to a back five with three central defenders when out of position. It stopped the bleeding defensively to great effect, but it led to just 23 goals scored in 27 matches. Things haven’t improved a great deal since then. Under Giovanni

Solinas and Ernst Middendorp, the side conceded 29 goals and then last season, despite being 20 minutes from winning the league, Amakhosi leaked 27 goals. However, with just 23 games played this term, they have already conceded 27 goals and, with seven matches to play, they are likely to end up around 32 or 33 goals leaked, which would be their worst defensive record since Baxter departed.