Bad day at the office for Nabi, now he’s got a new Kaizer Chiefs crisis on his hands
A Blue Monday.
Kaizer Chiefs took a thumping by Young Africans on Sunday and that’s not even their biggest issue right now.
Hope springs eternal until it doesn’t
There’s been much fanfare and optimism around Kaizer Chiefs Football Club in recent weeks. They’ve got a brand new manager, a revamped technical team, three new signings, and potentially more to come. However, a day is a long time in football and moods can quickly fluctuate. That’s the nature of the beast. We shouldn’t be reading too much into a friendly defeat, but 4-0 is not a scoreline that any Amakhosi supporter is willing to stomach.
Left-back crisis
Kaizer Chiefs always wanted to address the left-back position in this winter window with Sifiso Hlanti no longer possessing the athleticism for the role. The 33-year-old was released, but Chiefs have now been cruelly hit with several injuries in that position at the same time. New signing Bongani Sam from Orlando Pirates and versatile Mozambican Edmilson Dove both have foot injuries and will miss the start of the season. Meanwhile, fan favourite Happy Mashiane was absent from training in Bloemfontein during the club’s preparations for the inaugural Toyota Cup. That leaves Nabi with a few puzzles to solve. There’s even been the suggestion that teenage winger Nkosana Mbuthu could operate there at the start of the league season. He started at left-back against Yanga.
Tactical reshuffle?
With Sam and Dove out for the start of the campaign and Mbuthu unlikely to be risked in competitive matches, Nabi could be tempted to play a narrow back four with a central defender deployed at left-back. Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has the technical ability and is mobile enough to play there. However, much will depend on how quickly Rushwin Dortley settles into his new environment. If the 22-year-old starts comfortably, he could make the left-side central defensive role his own. It’s not an ideal problem for the new boss to have on his plate so early in his tenure.
Chiefs get their brand-new Betway Premiership campaign underway with an away clash against Marumo Gallants on Saturday, September 14.
WHO SHOULD START THE SEASON AT LEFT-BACK FOR CHIEFS?
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