With Kaizer Chiefs
now seven points clear at the top, here is a list of five factors
that have contributed to Chiefs topping the table with seven games to
go.
1. Unbeaten at home
Amakhosi have simply been ruthless at
home. They have not lost a single match at home. Added to that,
their away record has improved compared to last season. Last season
at this stage they only won 3 out of 12 matches away from home. This
season they have already won 6 out of 11 away games including the 3-0
thrashing of Bloemfontein Celtic this past Sunday.
2. Taking the lead and keeping it
Chiefs have only won once from a losing
position (against Free State Stars at home). When in the lead, the
Glamour boys have only thrown away 4 point all season from a winning
position. While this may point to a lack of fighting spirit for
some, one thing it does confirm is that Chiefs know how to sniff and
then grab hold of the three points, and then take the points safely
home no matter what the opposition may do.
Let us also not forget that from a
losing position they managed to take 2 points away from rivals
Orlando Pirates while simultaneously gaining an important point in
the first derby of the season. It is safe to say that Chiefs do
indeed “have
Balz”.
3. Change of tactics from Baxter
Many may think I will be highlighting
the use of an adaptable 5-3-2 (3-5-2) formation from Baxter as a bit
of tactical genius. However, the most important decision by Baxter
was to simply change from what looked liked a 4-3-3 with the
interchangeable three of Josta Dladla, Reneilwe “Yeye”
Letsholonyane (in a deep midfield role), and Siyabonga Nkosi, to the
more commonly used 4-3-3 (and other adaptations) that has Williard
“Salt 'n Pepper” Katsande playing the role that Tinashe
Nengomasha made his own as a “destroyer”, thereby allowing Yeye
more freedom to attack. This has allowed soccer fans the opportunity
to enjoy Yeye at his creative best - distributing balls all
over the pitch to allow Bernard Parker and co an opportunity to knock
the ball into the Auld Onion Bag.
In August, I
wrote that Chiefs may rue letting Nengomasha go as I felt
Katsande had not show enough consistency to fill his countryman's big
shoes. I also felt that Lucky Baloyi was also not ready to play big
role in a title-challenging team Fortunately for Amakhosi,
“Salt 'n Pepper” Katsande showed massive improvement and his
contribution has been immense ever since he became regular this
season.
4. “Major” strikeforce
When you have the luxury of bringing on
a Bafana Bafana striker on as an impact player, you have a quite an
advantage over other teams.
With a strikeforce containing the likes
of Bernard Parker, Kingston Nkhatha, and Lehlohonolo “Major”
Majoro to choose
from, Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter, has been spoilt for choice as the
three players have not only been consistent in their performance -
contributing over 20 goals - but they have also avoided any serious
injuries.
Contrast this to Pirates where Bafana
legend Benni McCarthy has remained sidelined for most of the season,
Takesure Chinyama has only scored twice in the league, Collins
Mbesuma is a shadow of the player he was for Chiefs back in 2005, and
Ndumiso Mabena... The mere mention of THAT miss in the Telkom
Knockout Cup match against Celtic probably still gives coach Roger
De Sa nightmares!
5. Injuries
Key players at
Pirates including Rooi Mahamutsa, goalscoring centreback Siyabonga
Sangweni, the experienced Benni McCarthy, Moneeb Josephs and Sifiso
“Myessi” Myeni have all suffered bad injuries during the season
which has contributed to the below-par performances.
As I mentioned
earlier, Chiefs have had a strikeforce that, fortunately for them,
avoided any serious injury problems. While in defence, their number
one in between the poles, Itumeleng Khune, has remained injury-free
while new signing Morgan Gould was the only senior player to get a
long-term injury. Midfield kingpin, “Yeye” Letsholonyane, as a
creative force, has played a big part in the title challenge while
Pirates have lost their biggest creative force “Myessi” to injury
at an important stage of the season.
So,
while both teams have had their share of injury problems, Pirates
were hit hardest with the loss of key men like McCarthy and Mahamusta
for most of the season.
Conclusion
There are of
course other factors that may have contributed to Chiefs currently
topping the PSL table (and no, the use of brown envelopes is not what
I was thinking).
However, with
seven games of the season remaining, the title is not yet wrapped up
and we may still witness some drama in the run-in.
Let's hope we will
have a relatively tight finish(and maybe even see Pirates snatching
it late) instead of a situation where Chiefs simply walk away with
the title. That is, of course, unless some of you actually take the
Q-Innovation table seriously.
Thomas Monyepao
Do follow me on
twitter. The name is @Tom_18Yards.
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