The interim coach of Kaizer Chiefs, Cavin Johnson can focus his Soweto derby preparations around five crucial aspects, which should equip the club to deliver a respectable performance, beginning with Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday, says Herman Gibbs of IOL Sport.
The squad requires a leader up front to trouble opposing defenders and free their teammates to exploit weaknesses in the opposition’s defense.
However, the strikers in the squad have not inspired confidence. Jason Gonzalez was destined to play a crucial role once the club’s wise men hired him in August. The Colombian has yet to create an impression after a few months.
Could Ranga Chivaviro be tasked with directing the attack? He knows his way around the striking zone, as he demonstrated at Marumo Gallants.
Once Johnson has decided on his defensive format, he needs to hand those players the responsibility.
He’ll very likely settle for a four-man rearguard, and in that case, he should persevere with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe. They have often played in the center of defense and should be allowed to settle down as a pairing. If either of them shows signs of weakness, Edmilson Dove is a good option on the bench.
Sifiso Hlanti and Reeve Frosler are great choices on the flanks, albeit the former is not always trustworthy. Frosler is solid when dealing with strikes in his channel, and Hlanti provides counter-attacking options out wide.
The team’s engine room is in desperate need of repair.
It is simply a matter of determining what the players are best suited to do. Yusuf Maart starts in center midfield with Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who has proven to be a capable defensive midfielder.
After the players have been informed of their responsibilities, inform them of what is expected of them. Mduduzi Shabalala and Mduduzi Mdantsane are most suited for duties behind the forwards in a four-man midfield, and they must spearhead attacking surges on the sides before sending goalmouth crosses.
Recently, Brandon Petersen has been the preferred goalie, with veteran Itumeleng Khune infrequently making the starting XI.
Petersen has made a few expensive mistakes, but he has also been great at times. Khune is a powerful leader on the field and one of the top distributors in the domestic league.
At this point, Petersen is the best option, and the technical staff must help him gain confidence.
Allow the team to reclaim its mojo by assigning roles based on their abilities so that they feel comfortable in execution.
They can stick to the game plan once they are familiar with their duties, and the combined effort provides the squad a decent opportunity of having an effect. If this occurs, it will benefit the team’s psyche, which has been a source of contention in recent weeks.
Leave a Reply