Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has revealed the one area of his team’s game that continues to frustrate him at this stage of the season.
Each week, Zwane watches his side make the same mistakes that have proved extremely costly, contributing to their inconsistency.
The Glamour Boys have blown hot and cold for the better part of the season, and one consistent feature has been their defensive mistakes.
COSTLY DEFENSIVE MISTAKES FRUSTRATE ARTHUR ZWANE
They have found it difficult to hold on to leads, gifting most of their opponents an easy way back into the match when they’ve had them on the ropes.
After winning five matches on the spin in all competitions for the first time this season, it appeared as though Amakhosi had finally turned the corner.
However, their defensive woes are now back under the spotlight after their 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants last time out.
Zwane insists they have been working hard on trying to limit mistakes at the back, but it’s an area that continues to be a thorn in his side.
“Obviously, when you start conceding goals that you shouldn’t be conceding, then you start to panic, more especially if that becomes a habit,” Zwane told the media.
“It’s normal, any human being when they’re in a situation they’re trying to avoid, it plays in their mind.
“We have been working to try and avoid [conceding soft goals], but it keeps on haunting us. But mistakes are part of the game, when you’re trying to do something right, mistakes can happen.
“It’s like that when you’re in a rebuilding phase, you try to fix one thing, and another resurfaces, then you have to go back and fix it.
“It will take some time until the players start enjoying even more, we don’t want them to panic when we have conceded a goal. We want to keep the same character, shape and discipline at all times.”
TOUGH TEST FOR KAIZER CHIEFS
Zwane’s side will hope to avoid making the same mistakes when they face bogey side Royal AM in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup.
The match will take place at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday. “At this stage of the season, we can’t afford to keep making costly mistakes time and again,” added Zwane.
“But I’m sure we will get it right.”
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