How Du Preez can be even more effective for Chiefs: Barker’s insight
Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has shared his insights on how his former player Ashley Du Preez can be more effective for Kaizer Chiefs.
Barker was speaking after Stellies 1-0 win over The Glamour Boys in a DStv Premiership showdown at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, 2 April 2024.
Stellenbosch’s win against the Soweto giants stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games across all the competitions.
This is the longest unbeaten run of all top-flight teams across competitions, as per Opta Jabu statistics.
STEVE BARKER ON ASHLEY DU PREEZ’S EFFECTIVENESS
Barker revealed how Du Preez can be more effective for Amakhosi, giving his views based on how the 26-year-old footballer played last night.
Du Preez started the game as a winger last night but ended up playing down the middle as a striker after Wandile Duba was replaced by Christian Saile, who then played as a winger in the second half. With the changes, Barker stated that Chiefs started to look dangerous with Du Preez as the target man.
Barker stated that Du Preez looked more effective when he was playing down the middle [as a striker] than he was in the first half when he was deployed as a winger.
“Well, Ashley we know his capabilities and his pace, and he’s dangerous. I might say I was more worried in the second half with the formation they had, playing him down the middle,” said Barker.
“I thought that’s when they looked more dangerous. So, we do know they do attack with the space behind, and they looked good on transitions.
“So, from a tactical point of view, Chiefs got the balance right. We avoided pressure on the ball, defended without leaving space, and let them have the ball in front.”
Barker continued, “Obviously, they have good players in the pockets, such as Mduduzi Shabalala and Pule Mmodi coming inside. We were also aware of that. They are a difficult team to defend against.”
STEVE BARKER ON SIBONGISENI MTHETHWA’S INFLUENCE
Meanwhile, Barker also shed light on Sibongiseni Mthethwa’s influence in the middle of the park and how it could been dangerous for his troops.
“We were obviously aware of players like Ashley, and we know Sibongiseni Mthethwa very well. I think you could see as the game went longer, he became more influential and got on the ball more. So, that could have been more dangerous for us.
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