Magesi FC head coach Allan Freese has admitted to serious concerns regarding his side’s defensive lapses following a disappointing defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday night.
Chiefs kept their continental dreams alive with a commanding 4-1 victory over Magesi in their Betway Premiership tie at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The Glamour Boys dominated the encounter with goals from Flavio Da Silva, Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Khanyisa Mayo, while Diteboho Mofokeng netted a consolation goal for the relegation-threatened Dikwena Tsa Meetse.
This performance marked Amakhosi’s fifth consecutive Betway Premiership win, boosting their hopes for CAF inter-club competition qualification.
While Freese’s tactical plan showed promise in the opening stages, the veteran mentor was left searching for answers as his backline crumbled, leading to a result that has raised alarms within the technical team.
WHAT’S THE PRESSING ISSUE FOR ALLAN FREESE AT MAGESI FC?
The most pressing issue for Freese is the sudden lack of stability in the defensive third. The coach revealed that the coaching staff discussed the alarming rate of goals conceded even during the match.
“Yes, we were speaking about it [conceding a lot of goals] on the bench, and it is a worrying factor,” Freese admitted. “So, that is why I’m asking why we are conceding so many goals all of a sudden. It has become a worrying factor for everybody.”
With the pressure mounting, Freese emphasised that there is nothing much he can do but return to the training ground to find a balance between clinical finishing and a disciplined defence. “We will go back and work because there is nothing else that I can do,” he added.
ALLAN FREESE REFLECTS ON DEFEAT TO KAIZER CHIEFS
Reflecting on the clash against Amakhosi, Freese noted that the game started according to plan, with his side holding their own and creating opportunities to break the deadlock during a competitive opening half-hour.
“Okay, yes, it is not a good result. But I thought we did well for the first 30 minutes. We even had a chance to score,” Freese stated.
“In the last game, we also lost, and we went home and worked on trying to find goals. Today [referring to Wednesday night], it was the opposite; we didn’t defend well. So, I think again, do we work on the attack or on the defence?”
Magesi’s next assignment will be against this year’s Nedbank Cup finalists, Durban City FC, on Sunday, 19 April, at Seshego Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 17:30.
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