Kaizer Chiefs winger Asanele Velebayi finally made his Amakhosi debut, but fans may have noticed a change of position. The long-awaited debutant finally got his first run in gold and black, stepping off the bench against AS Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The 22-year-old replaced Mfundo Vilakazi in the 66th minute at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday. He immediately showed glimpses of his quality, sharp touches, quick decision-making, acceleration, combination play, and a hunger to get on the ball.
But for those who followed his journey at Cape Town Spurs, one thing stood out: Velebayi wasn’t in his usual spot. Instead of operating from his familiar left wing, the right-footed attacker slotted in on the opposite flank. At Spurs, he made his name as their left-sided winger, playing over 100 matches and becoming one of the club’s finest academy products.
MODERN WINGERS AND OPPOSITE FLANKS
As a right-footer, Velebayi’s preferred position isn’t unique. The modern game has changed traditional winger roles, right-footers on the left, left-footers on the right. Think of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, or Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, all thriving while cutting in from the opposite wing.
At Chiefs, though, there might be a more practical reason. The club is stacked on the left, with Glody Lilepo, Pule Mmodi, and Gaston Sirino all fighting for minutes. That leaves the technical team with little choice but to fit in Velebayi on the right.
Local football isn’t short of similar examples either. Tashreeq Matthews at Mamelodi Sundowns, Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appolis at Orlando Pirates, plus Chiefs’ own Lilepo and Mmodi. Meanwhile, left-footers play on the right wing: Monnapule Saleng, Mohau Nkota, Tshepang Moremi and Mfundo Vilakazi.
So far, Velebayi looked promising in the adaptation, and if Sunday’s cameo was anything to go by, Amakhosi fans might be seeing plenty more of “Diamond” on that right flank.
In the meantime, Kaizer Chiefs, currently fourth in the Betway Premiership with 16 points from nine games, visit Durban City FC next at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night. Kick-off is set for 19:30.