Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has explained the technical team’s decision to start Sibongiseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa and drop Mduduzi Shabalala to the bench in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on Sunday afternoon at FNB Stadium
Ox recently returned to action after an injury lay-off. The last time he started a match was in the 1-0 loss to Richards Bay FC, where he captained the team. Ahead of the Betway Premiership derby, Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze benched Shabalala, who has enjoyed the most starts of any player in the last two seasons.
Mthethwa returned to the starting XI alongside Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu. Another surprise inclusion was Pule Mmodi, who has not started a game in recent weeks.
The two coaches also opted for Given Msimango ahead of Miguel Inacio in the heart of defence.
WHY MTHETHWA IS STARTING THE SOWETO DERBY?
The decision, he said, is intended to reinforce control in midfield for one of the most decisive fixtures in their Betway Premiership campaign.
“I think it’s very important [to be pragmatic]. It’s a derby game, so we have to win this game because it’s a rivalry between Orlando Pirates and us,” Ben Youssef told SuperSport TV. “And I think it’s very important to win this game. And second, our target is to finish in the top rank on the table. We are now in third place, but we are still competing for the best results.”
“I think it’s very important to control the middle of the game to stop that kind of phase of play. I think Ox and Maboe have been performing very well. With Ox, I think we need to control the middle more. So for that, we choose to introduce Ox.”
The Tunisian mentor insists their focus remains firmly on themselves, brushing aside suggestions that they could influence the title race involving their rivals Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We think only about ourselves, we think only about our performance, we are focused only on our team. It’s their problem for the competition or everything. For us, we think only about ourselves, we think only to win this game, to continue in the best way that we have been doing in the last few games. And I think that’s the most important thing for us.”
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