Arthur Zwane reveals half-time instruction that inspired Kaizer Chiefs’ derby win
...names a player who failed to give them the edge
Arthur Zwane has revealed his instruction to Kaizer Chiefs’ players at half-time, which inspired their 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates.
Chiefs stole a late winner, thanks to an Olisa Ndah own goal, as the two teams clashed in a DStv Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 25 February.
Zwane, who went into the match under pressure due to Chiefs’ inconsistent run this season, said, “it was important for us to get three points today”.
ARTHUR ZWANE’S HALFTIME INSTRUCTION
The win against arch-rivals Pirates would have bought him a bit of time as he looks to steady the Amakhosi ship.
“This is one game where I feel we gave them too much respect in the first 15 minutes. We waited for [Miguel] Timm and [Phillip] Ndlondlo to receive the ball in the middle because we set those traps,” Zwane told SuperSport in a post-match interview.
“But we were losing every second ball, and they were regaining position. We started playing in patches, but it was always gonna be difficult when it comes to transition because we wanted them to come with the ball.”
At halftime, Zwane’s instruction to the players was clear. “I told them ‘you have to put them under pressure. You have to force them to make mistakes’. We got that one where Saile was going straight to the goals, then Inno [Innocent Maela] was sent off,” he revealed.
Pirates played the last 30 minutes of the second half with 10-man after their captain Maela was sent off for a foul on Christian Saile.
MORALE-BOOSTING RESULT FOR KAIZER CHIEFS
However, Zwane singled out one player who failed to capitalise on Pirates’ handicap after the red card.
“We had to reshuffle the team in terms of going forward, but unfortunately, Sifiso [Hlanti] was not giving us that extra man forward because there was no need for us to sit back.”
Zwane explained his decision to bring on Happy Mashiane and Kgaogelo Sekgota.
“I had to bring in Happy and Sekgota to eliminate people,” he said.
Despite the morale-boosting victory, which makes it a double over their crosstown rivals, Zwane believes they could have done better in terms of moving the ball.
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