Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has explained the tactical reasoning behind Amakhosi’s starting line-up that featured seven defensive players during their 1-1 Betway Premiership draw against Stellenbosch FC at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Soweto giants were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after Sinoxolo Kwayiba broke the deadlock for Gavin Hunt’s side in the 47th minute, with Mduduzi Shabalala pulling an equaliser back for the hosts in the 58th minute.
The result leaves Chiefs in fourth place on the log standings with 14 points from eight matches, though they remain unbeaten in the league.
Much of the pre-match and post-match discussion centred around Chiefs’ tactical deployment, which saw seven defensive players—Reeve Frosler, Bradley Cross, Inácio Miguel, Thabo Moloisane, Paseka Mako, Thabiso Monyane and Sibongiseni Mthethwa—included in the starting eleven.
DILLON SHEPPARD BREAKS DOWN KAIZER CHIEFS’ TACTICAL SETUP
Addressing the media after the match, Sheppard defended the selection and challenged the label attached to certain players, specifically pointing out Frosler’s developmental background.
“Reeve, why would you say he is a defender? When he grew up at Wits, what position did he play? No, I am asking here. He grew up as a midfielder,” Sheppard said, when replying to a journalist who asked him about the defensive tactical setup.
Sheppard went on to explain that squad management and recent injury setbacks forced the technical team’s selection, particularly following the three-week FIFA international break.
“The reason for the line-up, obviously, [was] due to the injuries we had. Young Thulani Mabaso has just come back from a long-term injury. To throw him into a game right after we returned from a FIFA break would be unfair to him,” Sheppard stated.
“We had to find alternatives. In the pre-season, we worked with Reeve in the midfield, and he had played in that position before. During the three-week break, we prepared with him, and he did really well. So, that was the reason behind that.”
WHY PASEKA MAKO HAD TO START WITH THE GAME
The assistant coach also highlighted the strategic choice of Paseka Mako and the anticipation of Stellenbosch’s direct approach, including dealing with veteran striker Bradley Grobler.
“With Paseka Mako coming back from an injury, it was his first start of the season. To give him the back four role, we were thinking about long balls with a lot of pace that everyone wants to play,” he added.
“We also wanted to look after Bradley Grobler. We anticipated that Bradley would start the game with Sinoxolo Kwayiba, considering the aerial qualities that they have. So, we wanted to control those aerials and use the wing-backs to get behind them.”
DILLON SHEPPARD SURPRISED BY STELLIES SETUP
Reflecting on the opposition, Sheppard admitted Stellenbosch’s structure caught them slightly off guard, though he praised the competitive nature of the encounter.
“We never anticipated Gavin Hunt going with a back five. But if you see these line-ups, sometimes he plays Thabiso Lebitso a little bit in front and uses Siviwe Nkwali at right back, but we know he plays as a centre-back. However, it was a good battle,” he explained.
Concluding his tactical analysis, Sheppard emphasised that starting formations on paper often look more conservative than how they function dynamically during open play.
“The system is just there, but in a game, it is all about changing players, roles, and responsibilities, and occupying positions at different times.
“So, we can say it is defensive, but it is also attacking when your wing-backs move high in a 3-2-5, which becomes a very attacking system,” Sheppard concluded.
RELATED STORY: The clause behind Faiz Abrahams’ last-minute withdrawal from Chiefs’ line-up
