A former Kaizer Chiefs defender has pointed out what has made the centre-back pairing of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango solid up to this point.
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango joined Kaizer Chiefs in July, prior to the start of the 2023/24 season.
They joined the Soweto giants from SuperSport United and TS Galaxy respectively, to add more stability to the team’s defence.
And coach Molefi Ntseki has trusted the duo to hold the fort in the team’s defense ahead of the likes of Zitha Kwinika and Njabulo Ngcobo.
HOW DITLHOKWE AND MSIMANGO HAVE FARED
Both have made seven appearances for Kaizer Chiefs, with each having five appearances in the DStv Premiership and two in the MTN8.
It appears Kaizer Chiefs have finally found the right combination to partner in the heart of defense.
With Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango in central defense, Chiefs have conceded five goals in all competitions while they managed to score eight.
They hope to hit gears up when DStv Premiership action roars back into life after the two-week hiatus.
WHAT THOMAS SWESWE SAID ABOUT THE DUO
Both, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango are yet to contribute in terms of goals and assists.
But how they have fared so far has left the Zimbabwean legend Thomas Sweswe confident that Chiefs’ central defense will no longer be shaky.
Sweswe is of the opinion that the coach should not change the Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango defense pairing. He feels their ability to communicate well at the back has built a good combination between them.
“They combine so well and that is exactly what is needed for centre-backs. Most of these partnerships fail because of lacking communication.
“Ditlhokwe [Thatayaone] is a proven leader. He has been a Botswana captain and his numbers at SuperSport United show.
“We can only hope that they continue doing well because playing for Kaizer Chiefs is not easy. There is a lot of pressure,” Sweswe told FARPost.
In truth, almost all new Kaizer Chiefs signings have given a good account of themselves since the season started.
They also signed Mduduzi Mdantsane, Tebogo Potsane, Pule Mmodi, Ranga Chivaviro and Edson Castillo. The Colombian striker Jasond Gonzalez is their latest addition.
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