Maestro Maart – Deep-lying playmaker?

What Zwane wants from his deepest midfield player is crystal clear. He made that known before the dust had even settled on last season, saying, “Your number six should be a playmaker. We want a ball player because we want to build from the back, we want to play with flair and we want to dominate.” Within the squad that finished last season, you could argue that no one truly suited that role. Whilst Phathutshedzo

Nange can play deep to build attacks and has a good passing range, he is more effective as a number eight. Cole Alexander is a player who can break up play, but he isn’t that comfortable receiving on the halfturn near his own box. The fee that Chiefs paid appears to be just under R6 million for Yusuf Maart. Although he usually plays a bit further forward and typically with another central midfielder alongside him, it is quite possible that Zwane will play Maart as a deep-lying playmaker. He has the long passing range to switch play, find creative players like Keagan Dolly and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo betweenthe-lines or hit speedy runners like Khama Billiat and Ashley Du Preez over the top. The big question mark

will be over his defensive nous in that lone six position and whether it would leave Amakhosi exposed. If you started two of Nange, Matlou, Alexander and Sithebe to the sides of Maart, they could cover any defensive weaknesses that the former Sekhukhune United captain may display.