Chiefs gave Arrows hope, says Zwane

THERE is no end to the Stuart Baxter hangover after Lamontville Golden Arrows defeated rudderless Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 on Wednesday evening to ensure a third loss on the trot for Amakhosi.

Since the departure of coach Baxter, Chiefs have lost to Stellenbosch and Arrows. Prior to his sacking, the Glamour Boys lost to SuperSport United, who were without a head coach at the time.

Chiefs will be back in action tomorrow against Cape Town City, who are on a run of five matches without defeat, the best in the Premiership while no other team has lost three in a row.

In the opening 20 minutes against Arrows, Chiefs looked good after a Khama Billiat goal, but as the match wore on, they flattered to deceive – especially when fatigue set in late in the second half.

Chiefs interim coach Arthur Zwane felt the side failed to maintain the early pressure and then faulted by playing backwards too often.

“We got a goal, and we should have scored two,” said Zwane. “Just after scoring, we took the foot off the pedal a little bit, and that was a worrying factor.

“We started playing too many balls backwards. At half-time, we tried to rectify that and made them (the players understand) we will end up giving Arrows a goal they did not deserve.

“And that’s how it happened when we were on the attack, and then (Kearyn Baccus) decided to play the ball backwards when I expected him to play it forward.

“It led to Siyabonga Ngezana playing the ball to Njabulo Ngcobo. He tried and then I don’t know ... but the pass was intercepted.

“We gave Arrows hope that they can score the second goal.”

The post-match talk was all about the unsporting behaviour of defender Ngcobo, who was substituted late in the match.

He stormed off past Zwane and fellow interim coach Dillon Sheppard, and refused to shake their hands after they had reached out.

Chiefs goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter saw what had happened and tugged Ngcobo on his jersey at shoulder height. There was a brief scuffle before the two parties took their seats.

Zwane took pity on Ngcobo, and felt he could be excused because he was upset about being substituted.

“I believe Njabulo was a bit upset with himself because he gave the ball away in the wrong areas, and we were punished,” said Zwane. “I don’t view it as other people … it may seem to be something that he did bad.

“I was a player myself, so maybe he was upset. I believe he feels he could have done better there.

“At half-time, we spoke about it and told him that he should release the ball early and not play the ball at the back – try to play the ball forward, so that we can attack.

“Unfortunately, he decided to play the ball back or he was trying to play short, couldn’t see the danger, so we got punished. As a player, he will learn from that because that is football.

“Football is a game of mistakes. It is a game that teaches us to be better.

“As much as I expected him to do better, that was his decision he made on the day on the field, and we got punished for it. He will learn from it and move on.”

Chiefs are expected to host Cape Town

City this afternoon (3pm kick-off) at FNB Stadium.

It is a match that the Safa arbitrator ordered to be played after Chiefs were unable to take to the field in December.

Speculation was rife that City would seek an interdict to stop the match, but coach Eric Tinkler said the team were not returning to Cape Town after Wednesday’s goalless draw with Sundowns. That suggests that City are preparing to face Chiefs.

With City chairman John Comitis already in hot water with the PSL, it is unlikely that the club will do anything to halt the fixture.