Zwane – How Chiefs Improved ‘Unpredictable’ Du Preez

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane believes they have improved Ashley du Preez to become an ‘unpredictable’ forward at the club.

Du Preez, 25, arrived in the off-season as one of their marquee signings in a deal worth around R10-million from Stellenbosch FC after scoring nine league goals in 29 games for the Cape Winelands outfit in the 2021/22 season.

He’s endured a rather inconsistent start to life at the club but since March, he’s netted three goals and registered three assists in four games for Amakhosi.

“Look at Ash where he comes from, he was a player coming from a set-up as a transition player, more than a player who comes inside the pockets and waits for the right moment, plays combinations, he’s improving on that,” Zwane said.

“You can see he doesn’t lose the ball cheaply [anymore], he was more of a direct player but you need to vary your game in the modern game – as you know opposition teams will plan for you and they know Ash is explosive waiting for space.

“So if you look at the goals we scored and chances we’ve created of late where Ash is involved, he comes from deep, he creates space for himself, he comes from one v one situation, why? Because he is unpredictable now.”

Zwane believes he’s showcasing new strings to his bow and his fitness levels have significantly improved as he’s completed 90 minutes or more 16 times out of the 25 games he’s featured in this season.

“He’s no longer a player who has to wait [for chances] so if they drop early [into a low block], he doesn’t have that space, I’m talking about [him] in the past, so he’s varying his game now – that is why Ash is also playing 90 minutes.

“I think he played [30] games last season, and he only played [five] 90-minute games – the other games he was substituted, so that alone tells you the role we’re playing in making him a better player and improving him as an individual.

“He’s adapted very well [to our system] and I’m proud that he is always on the scoresheet of late.”

Du Preez has directly contributed to 13 goals (eight goals, five assists) so far in his first season with the Soweto giants while also making his Bafana Bafana debut.