Paez has a new team and a new nickname
Steve Komphela said that statistics are like a bikini, inasmuch as they show so much, they reveal nothing. And I hope this vintage quote of his proves true with his latest acquisition, Gustavo Paez, whose statistics don’t inspire confidence in his capabilities as a striker.
Paez is probably the first player in history to earn a nickname without even kicking a ball at his new team as supporters now call him “Maleven”. Loosely translated, Maleven means “Mr Eleven”.
This nickname refers to his poor scoring statistics which suggest he has scored 11 goals in almost 100 matches. Debates have been going on since Amakhosi announced Paez as the only player they signed during the summer break.
Judging by what many are saying, there is nothing fans expect from Paez. The Glamour Boys – whose performances of late are anything but glamourous – struggled up front in the first round of the Absa Premiership and were expected to bring in a proven scorer.
Bobby Motaung – who is responsible for signing players at the club – has revealed that they are still hopeful of winning the league and double as they are still in the running in the Premiership and Nedbank Cup.
Such signings make it difficult to believe him. But football is a strange game, and Paez could force distasteful humble pie down our throats as did Jose Torrealba before him. It is not like there is a @SbongsKaDonga high standard at Chiefs at the moment.
As things stand, their joint leading scorer is defender Lorenzo Gordinho with three strikes. His stiffest competition will be club veteran Bernard Parker who rediscovered his scoring touch just before the break.
It was interesting to hear Komphela saying he wishes “Maleven” didn’t know the expectation that comes with playing for Amakhosi because that would make him less likely to feel the pressure.
“I wish he never understood what it’s like to play for Chiefs. If pressure was a language, it should be French to him because he speaks Spanish.
“The least he understands of the pressure of playing for Chiefs, the better, because if he understands, then tension starts,” said Komphela this week.
He also spoke in glowing terms of the Venezuelan-born attacker, but I didn’t really pay much attention to that because he did the same with Michelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambandare and we are yet to see their magic.
Unfortunately for Komphela, all eyes will be on Paez on Tuesday when his side host Free State Stars. His every move will be scrutinised and he will probably be trending on social media again and I hope it will be for doing well.
Some fans have already predicted that Bobby will be negotiating a contract termination with him in June and if he fails to make a good impression on his debut, that prediction might just come true.
With all the last-minute signings made by all 16 teams, I am happy the league resumes next week. The eight weeks without local football has been rough on me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the Afcon, but there is a space in my life which it failed to fill.
It is going to be an interesting run to the end. Let us show our support, using our feet by ensuring they play in front of decent crowds every day.