Sure, Chiefs’ strikers can score as many goals as they want, but if their defensive unit – which includes defenders and goalkeepers – continues to be erratic, they won’t win matches.
Kaizer Chiefs have a chance to finish the first half of the season better than how they started it if they win their three DStv Premiership matches in the next few weeks.
Those aspirations will have to come to the fore on Saturday afternoon when they visit Polokwane City at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane (3.30pm kick-off).
We look at three areas that Amakhosi have to focus on to win against City …
Next Kaizer Chiefs Match!
🏆#DStvPrem
⚽️Polokwane City FC vs. Kaizer Chiefs
👕First Team
🗓Saturday 09 December 2023
🏟Peter Mokaba Stadium
🕝15h30
📺SuperSport PSL, SABC 1
🎟R60 – Computicket, Shoprite#Amakhosi4Life #Khosified pic.twitter.com/JgkLaQB6K4— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) December 8, 2023
Score goals
Having roped in a handful of strikers during pre-season, Chiefs were expected to flourish in front of goal in this campaign, but that hasn’t been the case.
Their Premiership scoring record has been so poor that they are the fifth-lowest scoring team, with 13 goals to their name in as many matches.
Their struggles are due to being over-reliant on Ashley du Preez, who has been in and out of the team due to niggling injuries early in the season.
However, it’s not too late for his fellow strikers to take up the baton and ensure that they score goals for Amakhosi during the festive season, starting against Rise and Shine.
Jasond Gonzalez probably needs those goals the most as he’s yet to get his campaign up and running, despite arriving from his native Colombia with a lofty billing this season.
Defend well
Sure, Chiefs’ strikers can score as many goals as they want, but if their defensive unit – which includes defenders and goalkeepers – continues to be erratic, they won’t win matches.
The arrival of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango was expected to reduce Chiefs’ defensive woes and make them a solid back division.
But that has not been the case. Msimango has been in and out of the team, resulting in Ditlhokwe being paired with Edmilson Dove or Njabulo Ngcobo at centre back.
And that’s not all. Chiefs’ goalkeepers have left a lot to be desired, with Brandon Petersen dropped due to recurring mistakes, while Itumeleng Khune has conceded in all the games he’s played so far.
Khune was separated from the team on Thursday due to misconduct, and has been stripped of the club captaincy. His replacement, Bruce Bvuma, kept a clean sheet in his first game of the season against Moroka Swallows.
Bvuma is expected to start between the sticks against Polokwane. But he’ll know that he has to continue with his fine exploits if he’s to cement his place and get the Amakhosi out of the slump they are in.
✌️Khosi Fam kusazo shisa ku le summer! ⛱
Predict the score using @Vodacom to unlock your grocery voucher for this @KaizerChiefs game in Limpopo.
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— Vodacom Soccer (@VodacomSoccer) December 8, 2023
Contribute on the field
The first half of the season has been congested in terms of the schedule, with teams expected to play at least three times in seven days.
And that’s why everyone in the Chiefs set-up has to pull their weight and ensure that they end the year on a high to ease the pressure ahead of the new year.
Interim coach Cavin Johnson has tried to do his bit by giving players that were on the fringes some game time, including youth graduates Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Happy Mashiane.
But despite wanting to bring his philosophy and touch, Johnson can’t ring changes for the sake of doing that. He has to make sure that whichever player comes on – especially from the bench – also contributes to the game.
