Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Maybe a win in Abidjan will get the fans off Chiefs’ case
KAIZER CHIEFS take a breather from what has recently been a volatile FNB Stadium after suffering three of their four consecutive defeats at the venue when they face ASEC Mimosas in the second leg of their CAF Champions League firstround tie tomorrow, but midfielder Willard Katsande says playing in the Ivory Coast isn’t necessarily a good thing.
“I think our supporters would rather see us win in front of them, and so would we as players, hence we understand their frustration with the team’s results lately,” said Katsande, who sat out Chiefs’ 1-0 loss in the PSL to relegation candidates Jomo Cosmos in midweek.
“They will know the result regardless of where we play.”
Amakhosi take the same scoreline deficit to Abidjan tomorrow after being sucker-punched in a game where they completely dominated but ran out of ideas in the final third. That result only added to their woes, with the early exit from the Nedbank Cup and their chance to retain the league title shattered in the away defeat to Platinum Stars a few days earlier.
Chiefs’ poor run of defeats, which equals a club record from 2012 when Doctor Khumalo and Donald Khuse were co-coaches, has led to some introspection.
“We have been speaking as players and we are aware that we need to find a solution. It is clear we also need to unite because this job comes with pressure. The only time we will not be under this sort of pressure is when we are retired,” said Katsande.
He adds that coach Steve Komphela has shown strong resolve in dealing with the slump, in what has widely been regarded as an unsuccessful first season following two cup final defeats and surrendering the league title.
“The coach is calm,” Katsande said. “He has decided to focus on the job at hand and ignoring the negatives. It shows his character.
“There was always going to be a change with a new coach coming in, and I believe coach Steve is still finding his feet. As players we need to support him.”
That support needs to urgently show on the pitch, not just off it – like when the Chiefs players made their way to the dressing-room shielding Komphela from irate fans after the defeat to Cosmos.
ASEC are also struggling in their domestic league and fired their coach Jean Marie Assoumou ahead of the Champions League first leg, and replaced him with Siaka Traore.
“We need an early goal there to change the complexion of the game,” said Katsande, revealing a game plan that could definitely give Chiefs an advantage in a hostile environment they know very well. The Sowetans travelled to Abidjan two years ago to face ASEC in the Confederation Cup.
Amakhosi will be desperate to be on the winning side this time around, a result that could garner some reprieve for Komphela.