Mabedi has faith in Chiefs’ squad
Assistant coach believes they can build on lessons learnt in preseason friendly
Kaizer Chiefs are happy with their squad, assistant coach Patrick Mabedi said.
After a full-strength Chiefs were beaten 2-1 by a Mamelodi Sundowns B team in Saturday’s Shell Helix Ultra Cup preseason friendly at the FNB Stadium‚ Mabedi said he believed Chiefs needed just a left-back to complete their squad for their 2018-19 campaign.
This was in contrast with Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane’s view that his side needs to sign three more players in the off-season‚ despite having witnessed a display of the Brazilians’ impressive depth in Johannesburg.
Mabedi said the Helix Cup had given him and new Chiefs head coach Giovanni Solinas vital information on areas the team needed to improve on.
“It was a good game, but we have to admit that they were the better team on the day,” he said.
“We are in preseason and it was a good game for us to see what we need to work on.
“And I believe we saw that. As we go forward we can work on those moments.”
Mabedi was on the Chiefs bench on Saturday because Solinas is still waiting for his work permit.
The assistant coach‚ who oversaw the first three weeks of Amakhosi’s preseason‚ said he believed Chiefs’ squad was almost complete as it is.
“For now I think we are happy with what we have,” the Malawian former Chiefs centreback said.
“There is only one position that we need to consider.
“We are looking at buying a left-back – for the rest of the positions I think we are sorted.”
Jeremy Brockie and Themba Zwane scored in the 53rd and 92nd minutes for Sundowns on Saturday‚ with Bernard Parker pulling one back for Chiefs in the 96th.
Mosimane, having witnessed a display of his side’s depth, said he would aim to make three more signings before the start of the new season.
“We need three more players‚ in my opinion,” he said after the game.
“But when you bring three in‚ probably you have to release three.
“Because it becomes 29 now [in Sundowns’ squad].
“So‚ ja‚ probably we will release three and get three more. “We are in the market.” Mosimane was asked which positions he will look for.
“Probably centre-back‚ one player in attack‚ a 10 or a nine; and the third at left-back‚” he said.
“And a left centre-back‚ by the way‚ not right. To get the balance.
“Because I don’t like playing a right centreback on the left‚ as I did today [with Soumahoro Bangaly and Motjeka Madisha].”
Cryptically‚ Mosimane disclosed that Sundowns were targeting a 23-year-old attacker, hinting that it was a player in the Premier Soccer League.
The coach said the forward was capable of scoring goals‚ but that he could not reveal the player’s name. –