Six pointers for Zwane’s work in progress

Kaizer Chiefs have progressed to the semi-finals of the MTN8 after an Itumeleng Khune-inspired victory on penalties against Stellenbosch FC last Sunday. They are on a seven year trophy drought and have won this particular trophy just once in 13 years. Things under Arthur Zwane have been very mixed with six losses in 12 matches in charge prior to this cup tie, including last season. Is the inexperienced coach slowly starting to find his winning formula, having tried numerous different formations, personnel and tactics since

taking the reins from Stuart Baxter? Could Khune be the glue can holds an error-prone defensive unit together? In this feature, Soccer Laduma investigates these and many other key questions. 1. Khune back after 378 days!

In the 13 matches overseen by Arthur Zwane since replacing Stuart Baxter after 23 DStv Premiership matches last term, the MTN8 tie was the first time he handed a place in the XI to club captain Itumeleng Khune. It was remarkably the first outing the goalkeeping legend had enjoyed in a one year and 12 days since facing Mamelodi Sundowns in this competition in early August 2021. In the seven matches overseen last season by Zwane, he selected Brandon Petersen for the first three and Bruce Bvuma for the final four. That alteration seemed to work as the side had lost the three matches with Petersen in goal and went unbeaten (two wins and two draws) after Bvuma replaced him. Coincidence or not, it led to the coach keeping faith with Bvuma for the first three of this campaign. After he shipped four goals against Sundowns – through no fault of his own – he was dropped for Petersen. It was just two outings for the former Wits custodian before he also paid the price for a defeat. Khune’s selection for the cup was a surprise, but his penalty-saving heroics and generally solid performance could see him handed a run of starts. With the veteran looking a bit leaner than on his last sighting, perhaps it’s not too late for a career revival. He certainly has the best distribution of the three goalkeepers even if a run of starts under Gavin Hunt was underscored by build-up howlers versus Black Leopards and SuperSport United that led directly to goals. With some of the centre-backs making mistakes recently, having the guidance of a vastly experienced keeper could be beneficial as they regain confidence. Zwane simply has to stop chopping and changing at the drop of a hat as it disrupts the team for little benefit. It’s time to give Khune a run of starts. After all, form is temporary, but class is permanent, as they say! “10111” said post-match, “We needed to give Itu the opportunity, he’s been working very hard. Also, I wanted him to show a little bit of hunthat ger and desire. A fully fit Itu can give you a lot of things on the field.”

2. A back four is best

Since taking over, Zwane has used a back three on two occasions. In his first match in charge, Chiefs travelled to Stellenbosch FC and went with that shape. It didn’t work particularly well that night, especially with young Sabelo Radebe playing in a two-man midfield. The other occasions was a week ago in the Mother City as the Soweto giants were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Cape Town City. Eric Tinkler said post-match, “We knew the spaces would be out wide, especially when they decided to go with a back three, so they kind of played into our hands. We exploited those spaces very well in that first period, that’s where our most chances came from.” The question is what prompted that change as the side played Richards Bay FC on the Saturday and then travelled to Cape Town on Monday. There was little time to work on a different shape. Could it be that Zwane wanted to give Siyabonga Ngezana a vote of confidence after his errors against Downs and the fans’ reaction after he was subbed on against Richards Bay? The coach may not have wanted to leave Njabulo Ngcobo out after his Man of the Match outing against the Natal Rich Boys either. Therefore, a back three was selected to accommodate Ngezana and it simply did not work against a side with two wide forwards and very attacking wingbacks. The only positive from that episode is that the former Amakhosi winger may have learnt a lesson and gotten to know what suits (or doesn’t suit) his players a bit better. In coming matches, it seems the best bet to continue with a back four. This especially applies with the absence of Reeve Frosler, who is so attacking that playing as a wingback may be the best way to use him.

3. Hlanti is ‘like a new signing’

The return of Sifiso Hlanti for his first appearance in 10 months was a very welcome sight. The left back position has been a problem area and that’s why the club moved to sign Edmilson Dove on a free transfer to give more balance to the role, whilst Sibusiso Mabiliso was handed his clearance. Zwane said in July that despite Hlanti returning to training after his Ruptured Achilles, he was playing with fear during the sessions, revealing, “He is training with the boys, but in his mind, you can see he still has that bit of fear. He is sometimes pulling out of tackles, so we are trying to manage him. We don’t want to rush him and then we end up hurting him even more, so we will try to manage him with that gradually but with the hope that he will get back to his full fitness levels.” Of course, the big thing that the vastly experienced fullback brings is a great left-footed presence in that position. He also brings a strong defensive nous, vast experience having played in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and extra height. With Amakhosi having their share of troubles defending set-pieces, it’s an area where Hlanti has made a difference. He is also capable of playing deeper and narrow to create a lopsided back four that operates like a back three in certain moments.

4. Maart back to boost midfield

After his denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity against Richards Bay, Yusuf Maart has served a two-match suspension (even though in most other leagues worldwide, that offence only carries a one-match ban). His absence has been felt as Chiefs have lacked ability to move the ball forward as effectively. George Matlou has missed three matches too and it appears that Phathutshedzo Nange is yet to win over the coach. A huge amount of responsibility has been placed on Siyethemba Sithebe, who anchored midfield against Stellenbosch and covered every blade of grass when Chiefs had 10 men against Richards Bay. Maart’s return could allow him more breathers as Zwane has constantly spoken about how he is taking a bit longer to recover between matches after six months of inactivity. Maart looks to be the fulcrum around which ‘Mangethe-ball’ is based and the Glamour Boys face some very strong midfields in coming weeks against AmaZulu FC and Marumo Gallants, who both use three men in that area and will pose a challenge to the Soweto giants’ engine room.

5. Set-plays need work

In the side’s three league losses in five matches this season, they have conceded goals from set-plays and given up some other very good chances from dead ball scenarios. Zwane is well aware of this weakness and having seen Stellenbosch threaten from these situations, he said post-match, “It talks to us in terms of how we should set up from dead ball situations as well. It’s one of the key things that we need to work on and try to improve very, very quick.” Against Royal AM, Ricardo Nascimento scored in the first minute after a pin-ball in the area. Against Cape Town City, Nathan Fasika got free between a couple of players to head home and make it 2-0 on the night. Whilst working on the positioning of his zonal markers and those there to disrupt the opposition’s biggest threats is key, it also helps sometimes to simply pick a taller team in some games. With Hlanti returning in defence, it helps matters because Chiefs have a very small XI usually, where only really the two centre-backs can be considered good aerial players. Whilst Khune has never been at his best at claiming balls from crosses, he is probably better in that aspect than at least Petersen. The latter flapped at several deliveries against Richards Bay and the Naturena-based side were fortunate not to concede an equaliser.

6. What ‘10111’ can learn from Ten Hag

In many ways, Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag and Arthur Zwane have similarly difficult tasks on their hands. Both have taken off giant clubs who have not done as well as they should. Both coaches also suffered a heavy early-season defeat, albeit the Red Devils were thrashed by Brentford (and beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion too), whilst Chiefs lost to three sides who finished above them last term. What Zwane could perhaps draw from Ten Hag is the need to be pragmatic and more risk-adverse against better opponents. When Man United faced Liverpool, they didn’t play into their hands by playing out from the back and instead used their pace on transitions, whereas Amakhosi stuck to their idealistic style against Sundowns’ pressing and conceded an early goal from an error. After Ngcobo’s mistake led to a goal for Stellies, perhaps using more longer kicks from the accurate boot of Khune would be wise. Ten Hag spoke about the need to bypass pressing and play off second balls at times against teams that press high. That could be something for Zwane to consider with some tough matches on the horizon, including two legs of the MTN8 semi-finals against AmaZulu FC. Playing beautiful football is the long-term aim. After beating Gallants at the back end of last season, Zwane said, “Yes, it was not a game that was pleasing in the eye, the way we want to play, but we had to grind the result.” He also used that term before this season and it’s time for his side to pick up a string of three-point hauls, even if some compromise in the playing style is made.