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The Glamor Boys have had back problems, but have yet to click attack in the four games they have played this season.
Things have by no means gone as planned for Kaizer Chiefs’ hot seat new man Gavin Hunt.
Hunt has proven to be one of the best coaches in the Premier Soccer League, but has had a rocky start to life at South Africa’s biggest club, following 3-0 losses to Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in their first four games. .
There have been defensive back problems, including the surprise of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in the league opener against Sundowns.
On Saturday against the Pirates Amakhosi’s defense was again badly exposed. However, when looking at what went wrong, it was not just the defenders who were to blame.
Take Bucs’ opener, a deft header from Zakhele Lepasa. The obvious problem was that Lepasa was totally unmarked when he headed the ball past Daniel Akpeyi. But before that, one can see how Chiefs right back Ramahlwe Mphahlele isolates himself against two Pirates players, ultimately giving Terrence Dzvukamanja the space and time to pick Lepasa with a center of precision. . The second goal also came from a center on the Pirates’ left.
Mphahlele could have done it with the help of the right midfielder who that day was Lebogang Manyama. Yes, Manyama should have done his job. But the question that needs to be asked is whether Manyama should have been used in that role, which requires a lot of disinterested following, up and down the flank, in the first place.
Free Manyama and see what he can do
Manyama, the 2016/2017 PSL Player of the Season, is a creative gamer who thrives in spaces of space in and around the opposition field. Against the Pirates, he looked bad and was substituted early in the second half.
Another player who has neglected his game has been Leonardo Castro, who missed a real nanny in the Soweto Derby.
The Chiefs enjoyed success last season by employing Samir Nurkovic up front as a focal point and using his strength to bring the other forwards into play. With the Serb injured, it appears Hunt is expecting Castro to do the same job. Theoretically, the Colombian and former Mamelodi Sundowns man could and should be doing it. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t seem to be on top of his game.
One solution might be to move Castro to the bank and start Manyama in a more central position, pairing him up with Khama Billiat in advance.
Together, Billiat and Manyama could alternate in roles number 9 and number 10, offering creativity, mobility, rhythm, and at the same time, keeping opposition defenders guessing. If the two of them click, there’s the possibility of a really dynamic duo and it could also make the Chiefs less predictable, because lately, it’s apparently been a case of hitting Castro and then playing him.
Short on the flanks: Do the Chiefs regret letting some players go?
However, it is not necessarily that simple, because Amakhosi does not have much coverage in terms of open midfielders. In this sense, it will be a huge boost when Dumisani Zuma is back in top form. While the transfer ban has made matters worse, one has to wonder if the club regrets allowing the likes of Kabelo Mahlasela and Joseph Molangoane to leave.
Those two would have offered the natural width the Chiefs need, as well as the energy to get up and down the touchline. However, amid a transfer ban, Hunt has to settle for what he has and perhaps Reeve Frosler, a full back by trade, is another option as he has shown some good versatility.
It will certainly be interesting to see what changes Hunt makes, if any, when his wounded side takes on the TS Galaxy in a league game Wednesday night.
