In Saturday’s Caf Champions League final. The Amakhosi defense will have to be at its best to hold the deadly Al Ahly assault at bay.
Erick Mathoho, Itumeleng Khune Daniel Cardoso, Yagan Sasman, Daniel Akpeyi, and Siyabonga Ngezana are all Chiefs defenders (and goalkeepers) who have made costly mistakes this season.
In a season in which Kaizer Chiefs have struggled domestically, there have been a worrisome number of defensive gaffes.
To their credit, the Chiefs’ defense has improved significantly in recent games, as seen by their two-legged Caf Champions League semi-final shutout against Wydad Casablanca.
Read more: Kaizer Chiefs are interested in Ismail Aziz Kada
But the extended layoff since their last competitive match would not have benefited Amakhosi. It implies some of the momentum togetherness and understanding in the backline may have been gone.
In any case, the defense will be crucial in Casablanca on Saturday. The heavy underdogs, Amakhosi must hold the score at 0-0 for as long as possible. They will gain confidence to sneak a goal as Ahly becomes increasingly eager to score in the closing minutes.
As a result, it is critical that the Amakhosi technical staff get their starting lineup, particularly the defense, exactly correct.
To be more precise, the left-back position may be causing the most consternation for the coaching staff.
The primary left-back alternatives are Sasman, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, and Philani Zulu, but none have played with any conviction for a decent amount of time this season, and all three have made poor blunders – whether directly or by enabling their opponents to whip in dangerous crosses.
Due to the problems, Cardoso and even midfielder Njabulo Blom have played there at times.
Also read: Hendrick Ekstein wants a Chiefs return
While Sasman started both semi-final matches and he came off the bench in both. He did nothing to convince me that he is the best man for the job based on his current form.
It would almost certainly be a better decision to start the Amakhosi first-choice right-back. The considerably more reliable Reeve Frosler, at left full-back.
Ngezana or Ramahlwe Mphahlele, on the other hand, are also viable choices. Alternatively, a five-man defense with Mphahlele assisting Cardoso and Mathoho in the middle, Ngezana on the right, and Frosler on the left may make the most sense.
https://thekosibay.co.za/996/sport/football/psl/chiefs-face-khama-billiat-uncertainty/
