Snl24 | 5 Reasons Why Chiefs Struggled

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 20: Molefi Ntseki coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership match between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Peter Mokaba Stadium on September 20, 2023 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)

The past season has been a stark reminder of the challenges facing Kaizer Chiefs, where one of South Africa’s most famous clubs had failed to live up to their lofty expectations.

Despite the anticipation and hope at the season’s start, Amakhosi concluded their campaign without silverware, missing a top-eight finish and landing in a disappointing tenth place.

This outcome has sparked widespread criticism regarding the club’s direction and strategy. Here, Soccer Laduma explores five critical reasons behind what many consider to be one of the Glamour Boys’ most disappointing seasons in top-flight history.

Molefi Ntseki’s Short-Lived Tenure

The appointment of Molefi Ntseki as head coach was met with skepticism, particularly after his unsuccessful stint with Bafana Bafana which was fresh in the memory of many critics. Ntseki had failed to qualify South Africa for the Africa Cup of Nations before he was replaced by Hugo Broos. When he was named Chiefs’ Head of Academy, being an important position but behind the scenes, it was easier for Ntseki to move on with his progress away from the high pressure at the helm of a Bafana or a Chiefs head coach position. At the beginning of the 2023-24 season he was surprisingly asked to move from the academy to the senior first team. Back in the hot seat, Ntseki’s tenure at Amakhosi was brief; by mid-October, he was dismissed following a Carling Knockout exit against AmaZulu. His inconsistent results with four wins, three draws, and six losses disappointed fans who started throwing objects at Ntseki at the end of games, leading to his premature departure.

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A successful team often boasts a consistent starting eleven, allowing players to develop understanding and cohesion. Chiefs, however, faced criticism for their frequent lineup changes, utilizing 32 players throughout the season. This lack of continuity, especially in a squad of over 33 players (where not all were used on the field), hindered the team’s ability to form a solid unit, with only the goalkeeping position showing some stability when interim coach Cavin Johnson took over and preferred Bruce Bvuma as their starter. To underline the many changes to the team through the season, at one point Edson Castillo was arguably Amakhosi’s best performer but then even he was frustrated to be missing games later in the campaign.

Goal-scoring Drought

The adage that goals win matches was a painful truth for Chiefs, who struggled in front of goal, netting only 25 times in 30 matches. The forwards, including Ashley Du Preez, Ranga Chivaviro, Christian Saile Basomboli, and Jasond Gonzalez, failed to make a significant impact, with none reaching double figures in goals scored. Their lack of a reliable goal-scorer was highlighted by Johnson as a major concern towards the season’s end. Chiefs have not had a prolific scorer since Samir Nurkovic and that was the last time they nearly won the PSL title, under coach Ernst Middendorp in 2019-20. 

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Absence of International Stature

Historically, Chiefs had attracted talent from around the globe, particularly from Africa, players who represented their national teams. This season, however, saw a noticeable absence of Chiefs players in international competitions, be that qualifiers or the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. There was no Chiefs player in the Bafana squad and their only international player at Afcon was Edmilson Dove of Mozambique. That is a shocking stat when you consider that Amakhosi had so many South African stars when they were last winning the PSL title under coach Stuart Baxter, even famous Bafana players such as Siphiwe Tshabalala and Itumeleng Khune. Chiefs had gone from these household star names to signing players on the fringes of the national team squad such as Yusuf Maart who then struggled to get back into even Broos’ preliminary squads.

Defensive Struggles

While a strong defence is often the backbone of a championship-winning team, Chiefs found themselves vulnerable at the back, conceding 30 goals over the season. Despite a run of clean sheets earlier in the year under Johnson, the defense was frequently breached through the season, highlighted by a 5-1 defeat to Sundowns. This contrasted sharply with the defensive records of their rivals, with Sundowns conceding only 11 goals, matching Chiefs’ 2003/04 title-winning season’s defensive performance. It underlines how far the Brazilians have improved and how far Amakhosi have fallen since they were last dominating. If Chiefs are going to compete with the Brazilians again, they will have to solve their problem at the back. 

As Chiefs look to rebuild and refocus for the upcoming season, addressing these key areas will be crucial. The need for a stable coaching presence, a consistent starting lineup, a prolific goal-scorer/s, international calibre players, and a solid defensive strategy are all evident. After tackling these issues head-on, Amakhosi can start to talk about the possibility of returning to their former glory and challenge for titles once again.

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