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Not yet panic stations for the Soweto giants, but they could certainly use an elevator and the return of the Bafana defender could do it.
As the Kaizer Chiefs continue to struggle to get in shape, Eric ‘Tower’ Mathoho’s return from injury appears to be assuming increasing importance.
Mathoho was in action for the first time this season when he started in central defense against the TS Galaxy in a 0-0 draw at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
Although the clean sheet gives the impression that Amakhosi defended well, this was not entirely true throughout his defense, where several individual errors were made, but not capitalized by the Galaxy.
The likes of Kgotso Moleko, Philani Zulu and Daniel Cardoso in particular, made some unpunished mistakes, including Cardoso’s weak challenge at Lindokuhle Mbatha, which subsequently led to Moleko attacking the player and conceding a penalty. Luckily for them, Wayde Lekay hit the wood with his kick.
On the other hand, Mathoho had a solid game and was generally impressed. He also made a possible game-saving intervention in the dying moments to clear a deflected shot from Mokete Mogaila off the line, after the Galaxy substitute had run rings around the Glamor Boys defense.
However, a bit concerning for Chiefs fans was seeing Mathoho being substituted in the 84th minute. Hopefully, for his sake, that was just a precautionary measure on the part of Amakhosi’s coaching staff for a player returning from a two-month layoff.
Because amid a rather turbulent start to the season, which included heavy losses to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, the Glamor Boys could really use some stability and leadership from behind.
Matotho, 30, isn’t a particularly vocal player, but he leads by example and his commanding presence alone tends to bring calm to the defense.
And after an unusually unproductive 2018/19 campaign, the Bafana defender Bafana came back strong last season and played in 27 of 30 league games, weighing in on five goals as well.
It’s his ability to score from set pieces that could also prove invaluable to Amakhosi at this time. In fact, the only goals they have scored this season have been defender Yagan Sasman’s double in MTN8’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Maritzburg United (both from the corners), as well as an own goal. Chippa United defender Gregory Damons in a 1-0 win.
So while Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt hopes Matotho can plug some holes in the rear, he will likely also look to the big man for inspiration at the other end of the park, starting with the MTN8 semi-final. back on Sunday. against pirates. The Bucs have a 3-0 lead since the first leg.