Legendary former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi has highlighted something that was missing at the club last season, which appears to have been resolved following the club’s strong start to the season.
Chiefs have had an encouraging start to the year, winning four of their five games and drawing the other. They are yet to concede a goal this season, with Brandon Petersen excelling in goals.
Amakhosi have invested heavily in their squad, signing several players who are likely to improve the team significantly.
Bafana Bafana defender Thabiso Monyane, Paseka Mako, Flavio Silva and Siphesihle Ndlovu have all made their debuts. Ethan Chislett, Nkanyiso Shinga, Lebohang Maboe, Luke Baartman, Asanele Velebayi and Khanyisa Mayo are yet to feature for the club.
“The signings they’ve made are very good, and maybe 70% of them haven’t played…not so much in defence, maybe on the sides. But you look at the team, I was one of the people that was vocal about obviously the goalkeeping department and the central defence,” Baloyi told FARPost.
WHAT BRIAN BALOYI FEELS WAS MISSING AT KAIZER CHIEFS
“The young McCarthy has slotted in beautifully there. Credit must go to [Brandon] Petersen as well. I think that’s what’s been missing within that [goalkeeping] department. There have been three of them [with Fiacre Ntwari and Bruce Bvuma], and you can’t go as a big team like this.
“It’s a big club that you go through a season, and three of your keepers are being rotated. They all have played almost the same number of games as you’ve been going through them.”
Baloyi, who guarded goals for Amakhosi between 1993 and 2004, believes the constant rotation was not helping the club. Chiefs had the third-worst record in goals conceded last season. In fact, they were the last team to keep a clean sheet in coach Nasreddine Nabi’s maiden season in the Betway Premiership.
“At least when you’ve played two, then you have an idea of maybe in the future who will be number one. But right now, I think Brandon has decided to take the bull by the horns and make that position his. And I’m proud of him.”
Chiefs host log leaders Sekhukhune United after the FIFA international break. Babina Noko are yet to lose a game and, just like Amakhosi, have won four and drawn one. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 September at the FNB Stadium. Kick-off is 19:30.
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