Itumeleng Khune failed to come to the party for Kaizer Chiefs, while Bidvest Wits’ new signings continued their excellent start to life with the Clever Boys, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
1) Chiefs’ defensive combination:
Kaizer Chiefs’ central-defensive partnership of Daniel Cardoso and Eric Mathoho are too similar in nature and can’t be paired together. Both defenders have the ability to read the game well and are robust in nature, but they lack one major thing and that is pace.
Wits exploited those weaknesses in the first and third goals – with Hotto being allowed too much space to shoot in the first instance, while the last goal explemplified Chiefs’ need for Siyabonga Ngezana in the heart of the defence as Mxolisi Machupu and Gift Motupa combined well with the latter finishing off a swift counter attacking move.
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2) Wits’ new signings mean business:
Gavin Hunt made a whopping 11 signings during the transfer window, citing the needed to avoid failures of the past as the main factor. Thus far, the Clever Boys’ new acquisitions have certainly come to the party.
Five of the six Wits goals scored in their two opening league games have come from new signings: Hotto (2), Machupu, Motupa and Terrence Dzvukamanja. Former Cape Town City capatin Robyn Johannes has slotted in seamlessly in the heart of the defnce alongside Buhle Mkhwanazi.
Although it may be early days, Wits have certainly improved on the transfer dealings, coming a long way from the flops which were Steven Pienaar and Slavko Damjanovic.
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3) Chiefs’ insistence on starting veterans might be to their detriment:
The likes of Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala boast bagloads of experience and quality, but they need to be managed correctly and as a coach, that includes knowing when they should be deployed and when they shouldn’t.
It wasn’t only noticeable in the Wits clash, but in Chiefs’ league opener against Sundowns too – Parker and Shabba were almost playing on the wing. In attack, this tactic nullifies the attacking threat quite with fullbacks likelier to track behind the ball when the seniormen have the ball.
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Parker should be utilised just off Leonardo Castro due to his predatory instincts, while Tshabalala should play more central due to his ability to cut defences with his final ball into the area.
4) Wits have the makings of title contenders:
Once again, it maybe early in the season, however Hunt has dipped into the transfer market to successfully strengthen his squad.
Not only has he increased competition and added quality to the team, but more importantly he has succeeded in jacking up the spine of his team with the arrivals of Brighton Mhlongo, Johannes, Motupa, Haashim Domingo and Simon Murray to mention a few.
Hunt is spoilt for choice in almost every position on the field, a luxury which not all the teams in the PSL has.
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5) Chiefs desperately need someone in engine room:
One of the biggest concerns at Chiefs since their last title-winning team under Stuart Baxter has been the club’s inability to replace veteran midfielder Renielwe Letsholoyane. Simply put, the former Bafana Bafana international’s departure left a void in the team that wasn’t adequately filled.
With all due respect to the likes of Hendrik Ekstein, George Maluleka and Siphelele Ntshangase, they either blow hot and cold or they are not prolific in the final third.
The arrival of 2018 COSAFA Cup Player of the Tournament Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana could go a long way to filling that void. Until then the Madagascan awaits his South African permit, while Chiefs suffer in engine room.
Photo: Backpagepix
