Why Chiefs flopped

AFTER Kaizer Chiefs’ opening day defeat to Bidvest Wits, Tshepang Mailwane provides reasons why Amakhosi stumbled despite promises of improvement from last season: NOT A THREAT UP FRONT Last season Chiefs scored a below-par 38 goals in 30 league matches. Coach Steve Komphela expressed his concern about the many chances Chiefs were wasting, but he made the surprise decision to go with Bernard Parker as a target man. Parker, who scored four goals last season, was isolated before he was taken off late in the game. Parker is better suited as a second striker feeding off the target man. Komphela got it wrong there. WHERE ARE THE NEW SIGNINGS? You’d think that after bringing in 10 players during the off-season, Komphela would include most of them to take the places of some of the players who were disappointing last season. However, he bizarrely started with just Ramahlwe Mphahlele and brought Lewis Macha and Emmanuel Letlotlo on in the second period. Chiefs need to refresh their starting line-up but it does not look like they have faith in the new signings. Sibusiso Khumalo could make a difference on the left flank with his energy. KEEPING EKSTEIN FOR 90 MINUTES He’s been labelled a promising player many a time, but Pule Ekstein has not shown he can be that playmaker Amakhosi need to drive them forward. A lot of Ekstein’s passes either went sideways or backwards. Despite not having a good game, Ekstein was kept on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes. Willard Katsande did all the hard work in central midfield and had little support. THERE WAS NO PLAN There were many times Amakhosi were playing aimlessly, hoofing the ball forward for Parker. Anyone who watches football knows that Wits central defenders Buhle Mkhwanazi and Thulani Hlatshwayo are strong in the air, so playing the ball on the ground is the best option. At times rightback Kgotso Moleko drifted into central midfield, overcrowding that area of the pitch. NO LEADERSHIP IN DEFENCE They have signed Mphahlele, but Tefu Mashamaite was never replaced. There was no one at the back who took charge and made sure that they are organised on Tuesday. Mphahlele has become more comfortable at the right back, so Chiefs still need a defender who is as vocal and solid as Mashamaite was in central defence.