OPINION: It’s been a tumultuous season for Kaizer Chiefs under Arthur Zwane in his first season in charge of the team.
Having tasted success at Chiefs as a player, it would have been expected that ‘10111’ would turn around the club’s fortunes.
Unfortunately, football is a bit of a tricky game. Sometimes things don’t go the way one anticipates.
The Once Mighty Amakhosi are approaching a decade without lifting silverware while their rivals Mamelodi Sundowns continue to stretch the gap.
I doubt they would have predicted that they would have dropped out of the title chase at this stage of the season.
KAIZER CHIEFS HAVE GONE THREE GAMES WITHOUT A WIN AND A GOAL
That they would have gone three games without a win. And those three games without a goal. I doubt it.
You can see there are murmurs already in the Kaizer Chiefs camp. The club’s sporting director was livid when they recently lost 4-0 to AmaZulu.
As usual, fans want to point out who the problem is whenever things aren’t going well.
In their case, several players have been singled out as the problem.
After a couple of mistakes, the club’s defenders have been fingered as the problem. First, it was Siyabonga Ngezana who was condemned as not good enough. Clamours are now around Zitha Kwinika.
Burundian striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana has also borne the brunt.
Most of all, some are beginning to question the coach’s pedigree to lead the club.
As things stand, Chiefs are in sixth position ahead of their game against bogey side Royal AM.
A fourth straight loss to Thwihli Thwahla will further complicate matters.
It may see them drop out of the top six, depending on the other results.
A disastrous scenario would be ending the season outside the top eight, which they would likely want to avoid at all costs.
BUT HOW DOES MANAGEMENT HELP ARTHUR ZWANE
I know Zwane has said he is happy to use young Samkelo Zwane in that central defensive midfield position left by Njabulo Blom, but I fear the season could be lost there.
Not that the youngster is a lousy player, but one gets the feeling he’s not cut out for the holding midfield position.
The attributes he displays thus far are of a number eight. The attributes that stand out for me are his excellent skills in both long and touch-passing and ball-handling.
He’s certainly not your typical six at this point. You won’t expect him to shield the back four with the same aplomb Blom did. You’ve hardly seen him tackle and intercept the ball as necessary to disrupt any attacks from the opposition.
Perhaps it’s too early, and those are attributes he’s yet to develop. I firmly believe Chiefs need a robust number six to shore up things.
An excellent example of how much a good number six can transform a team is Casemiro at Manchester United.
With him on the field, United now look like a totally different team from last season.
That number six is the team’s engine, which eases the pressure on the back four.
He’s got to have the ability to control the game’s speed, either by playing ahead or by going sideways.
With experience, the defensive midfielder gets to master his mobility, decision-making, and passing.
The current Chiefs squad is yearning for that kind of player. They need to start dominating duels in midfield and giving a bit of freedom to Yusuf Maart to venture forward to aid the attack.
Since the departure of Blom, Maart constantly has to look over his shoulder to ensure the team is safe.
ADD A BIT OF DEPTH
At the start of the season, Zwane alluded to how wingers were vital to how they wanted to play.
A few of Bimenyimana’s goals came from Kgaogelo Sekgota, who seemed to have made the left-wing position his own.
Lately, he has had to come from the bench, and one gets the feeling a quality player who can play on either wing and is direct would help the team.
It’s unclear where newly signed Congolese forward Christian Saile will play, but they certainly could do with a bit of competition in that position.
With a few days before the transfer window closes, Chiefs would want to fill those two positions and add a bit of depth and leadership to them.
A PROVEN GOAL SCORER IS NEEDED
Chiefs also need a proven goal scorer to give the season a decent finish. Again, not sure if Saile is that man, but it remains to be seen.
Amakhosi rank fifth in goals scored per match at 1,1 goal per game. That is not good enough for a club as big as Chiefs.
After 17 games, their highest scorer is Bimenyimana, who has scored seven goals, four of them from the spot.
Keagan Dolly is second with three goals. Zwane is on record saying they’re creating scoring opportunities but struggling to convert.
Goals win you games; the quicker they start notching goals, the better for them.
But looking around that team, where will the goals come from?
A VETERAN COACH TO ASSIST HIM
Maybe the one last thing Zwane may need next to him is a veteran coach. Both he and his assistant Dillon Sheppard are greenhorns as far as coaching at that level is concerned.
Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag wanted Steve McClaren to form part of his backroom staff because he has the experience of winning titles in his career. McClaren’s influence on his decisions is quite telling, and United have done decently for themselves since the Dutch manager took over.
Maybe, just maybe, Zwane could do with an old hand next to him and a strikers’ coach.
With the Nedbank Cup and a decent finish to play for, a few additions may help Zwane finish strong this season.
But will Amakhosi break the bank to give Zwane what he needs to salvage the season?
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