Stuart Baxter has explained why new centre-back signings Austin Dube and Njabulo Ngcobo have not yet started a game for Kaizer Chiefs.
The Englishman saw his side collect their first win of the season when they beat Baroka 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Baxter once again went with his tested defensive pair of Eric Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso, who scored his side’s second goal, and explained why he picked them over the new arrivals.
“Both Dube and Ngcobo, they have both been excellent since they came in,” he told reporters after the match.
Do you buy two players that have never played together and just throw them in together, I don’t think you do.
“Dube got a bit of a taste tonight and both played in the friendly games that we’ve had and they are very close to being what I would call seriously contending for a spot.
“That could be an injury or it could be like tonight, you throw one on and he has a great game and you think maybe he deserves a bit more.
“That’s where we are. I’m delighted with the pair of them. They are learning how we play and they are learning at the same time what’s like to be a Kaizer Chiefs player.
Baxter also revealed that he will likely continue to start with Mathoho and Cardoso, but his preference could change in a month form now.
“Tower and Dana, until tonight, that was only the second team that scored a goal against us,” he added.
“We’ve let in two goals against Sundowns, which I think one was a great cross, one was a poor defence from our side. For two experienced players we do have a hiccup every now and again.
“But we kept Wydad out in two games, we kept Al Ahly out for 45 minutes when we had 11 men on the field. We’ve been shutout in training games, so they’re not that bad.
“If they’d been that bad, I would have fast tracked the other two lads, but as it is I think it’s going to be competition for places. It will get serious in about a months time. If at the point, Tower and Dana are feeling the heat and they are making mistakes, then there will be serious thoughts about giving the lads a run.
“But I think at moment we’ve got healthy competition and that will bring out our favourite centre-back pairing, whoever it may be.”
