Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has pinpointed a factor he believes restricted the Soweto giants to a slim win over Zesco United in a CAF Confederation Cup encounter at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday.
Pule Mmodi’s second-minute goal handed Amakhosi a 1-0 victory over Team Ya Ziko for the Betway Premiership side’s first set of maximum points in Group D. Winning away from home was a perfect response by Chiefs after losing 2-1 to Al Masry and drawing 1-1 with Zamalek SC in their first two games in this pool.
They are third on the table with just a point fewer than second-placed Zamalek and three below leaders Al Masry. That keeps Chiefs in contention for advancing to the knockouts with three group matches remaining.
However, Ben Youssef has identified a key issue he thinks was against them while facing basement side Zesco, who have suffered three straight defeats in this Confederation Cup group.
WHAT WORKED AGAINST CHIEFS IN NDOLA?
“We expected it would be a difficult game. Yesterday [Saturday] we held our training session on the pitch, and we discovered that the pitch is so difficult to play football on,” said Ben Youssef.
“So, for that, we had to manage how we played our football. You know that we are a team with technique, but this kind of pitch is dangerous to play football because players have to make three or four controls before they play the ball.
“During the [AFCON] break, we were focusing on the strategic ball, and I think in the second game we scored with the strategic ball. Even this game, we watched a lot on how ZESCO defend freekicks and corner kicks, and we were following this to score with a strategic ball.
“We are so happy about the result. I know the performance wasn’t so good because we played different football than our [normal] football.”
Chiefs will remain on the road as they travel to Bloemfontein for a PSL tie against Marumo Gallants on Wednesday, seeking to stay in close chase of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in the title race. After the clash at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, they then head to Durban, where they host Zesco at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the return fixture on Sunday.
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