Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane feels this is the worst season he’s experienced since being part of the club in reference to their lack of cutting edge.
Chiefs secured their fifth consecutive win across all competitions with the 2-1 win over ten-man Stellenbosch thanks to goals from Ashley du Preez and Keagan Dolly.
But it could have been a much easier fixture at FNB Stadium had they taken their chances in the opening half, before Ibraheem Jabaar netted seconds into the second half to set up a nervy 45 minutes of end-to-end action, culminating in an incredible save from Brandon Petersen with Stellies’ last kick of the game.
When asked what creates this scenario where Amakhosi have been consistently guilty of not taking their chances, Zwane nailed it down to several factors.
“If you look at where we come from from the beginning of the season, we’ve been chopping and changing, remember we started with Khama [Billiat] as the top man,” he said after the game at FNB Stadium.
“That was before Christain [Saile] and Caleb [Bimenyimana] came when we had already started the season also, we’re always looking for combinations.
“And sometimes, you don’t understand, when you’re looking for these combinations and certain players come in while we’re already under pressure, and they are expected to come in and deliver, you know? And still has to understand the culture, environment and settle.
“So it’s not easy in a team of Chiefs’ caliber, where we’re expected to perform week in week out, injuries as well, where when somebody is doing well, then it’s either that or suspensions.”
The former Chiefs winger went on to state that he’s never experienced anything like it since joining the Soweto giants.
“We’ve had a very difficult season, for me, this is the worst season since I’ve been at Kaizer Chiefs, even before… when I was an assistant and even before I was still with the development,” he continued.
“I don’t think any other coach has been in this situation, myself and [Dillon] Sheppard and the rest of the technical team are in.
“We’ve had so many challenges, and having said that – I must still commend the players that came in under pressure when those we had were still being part of building a core team [to create] an identity.
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“So it made our life very difficult when it comes [to creating a team with killer instinct of finishing games off].”
Chiefs are now in fourth place, level with SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates on points, who occupy third and second in the DStv Premiership respectively.
