Amakhosi not in title race
KAIZER CHIEFS (0) 1 MARITZBURG UNITED 0
KAIZER Chiefs moved to within five points of the table-topping Orlando Pirates with seven Absa Premiership matches remaining for the Soweto Giants.
But while the Buccaneers are within touching distance, the league title isn’t for Amakhosi as they are far from championship-winning material.
Ramahlwe Mphahlele and
Bernard Parker argued on opposing sides this week on whether Chiefs are title contenders or not.
The performance Amakhosi produced here cemented Mphahlele’s case. The former Mamelodi Sundowns captain said Chiefs might be in the running for the league mathematically, but realistically they aren’t.
Parker responded by saying that maybe his teammate woke up on the wrong side of the bed because Chiefs are indeed fighting for the league and as the players they have to believe.
Chiefs’ performance put that argument to bed. Amakhosi are only fighting for the championship in misguided heads – the reality is that they’re too far behind the likes of Pirates, Sundowns, Cape Town City and Bidvest Wits, who are the real title contenders.
It’s not even about the points, but the gulf that separates Chiefs and the title contenders in class.
Amakhosi don’t take matches by the scruff of the neck like a team fighting for the championship would.
The Team of Choice, who came to Johannesburg rooted at the bottom of the standings, were the ones who took control of the match early.
Maritzburg put pressure on Bruce Bvuma in a rare start in goal. The 23-year-old was preferred in the starting XI ahead of Daniel Akpeyi, who committed silly mistakes in Chiefs’ last two matches, which is alarming since he was signed to plug the holes created by Virgil Vries.
The save of the match here though wasn’t provided by a goalkeeper. Nazeer Allie made two brilliant saves off the line, first to deny Khama Billiat and then Dumisani Zuma.
Chiefs fans were so in disbelief that they started gesturing for a VAR (video assistant referee) review. There was no need for such, as both Allie’s clearance were legitimate.
But neither Allie nor Richard Ofori in goal could not stop Zuma at the second time of asking.
The Chiefs forward received a well threaded through-pass from Leonardo Castro, which he curled beautifully to give Amakhosi the lead.
Chiefs looked better in the second half.
Their lead allowed Nkosingiphile Ngcobo to play with confidence on his debut, having come on before the start of the second half for the injured Billiat. Chiefs fans appreciated the silk touches of the 19-year-old, who was named in the Team of the Tournament in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, where Amajita qualified for the Under-20 World Cup.
The youngster was comfortable on the ball and showed why he is tipped as a bright prospect for the future.
The Team of Choice on the other hand face a bleak future. They remain rooted at the bottom of the log with only three wins from 23 matches.
Coach Eric Tinkler has a mammoth task on his hands if he is to save the KZN Midlands side. Maritzburg have tenacity and a good fighting spirit, but they aren’t clinical in front of goal, which is mainly why they find themselves starring down the barrel of relegation.