Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has explained why he opted to field Samir Nurkovic on the wing, with Khama Billiat taking up a more central role.
Nurkovic could often be found on the left wing of Chiefs attack in their 2-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, with Keagan Dolly occupying the other wing, while Billiat came more through the middle.
Chiefs did have several goalscoring opportunities but their finishing let them down, allowing Downs to collect the three points on Sunday.
Baxter was asked whether Nurkovic’s style of play complements the other two Amakhosi forward’s and tried to give some insight into his thinking about the role switch.
“If you want Samir to join in that short passing game and have an immediate first touch the way that Keagan and Khama perform it, I doubt it,” he told reporters.
“But Samir what he does give us, he gives us a very good foil for the two short players.
“For example, if we use Khama as the nine and at times we bring him in as a false nine position, Samir then from the position that he has becomes the nine, which is why he got so many times in goalscoring positions.
“I think Samir from that position is a good complement to them and that’s why I’m disappointed that one of those from three didn’t score a goal .”
