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Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has said the short two-week 2020-21 preseason is the main reason some of his veterans crunch the start of this season.
It’s no wonder Hunt nearly scratched his scalp on the sidelines of the Chiefs’ stuttering performances, including their 0-0 draw on DStv against rookies TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, and the Saturday’s 3-0 loss in the MTN8 semi-final semifinal to Orlando. Pirates
In games, Hunt’s brain seems to be working at a dizzying pace trying to calculate not only exactly how many puzzles he has to solve to put the Chiefs on the right track in 2020-21, but also how to tackle each one individually.
From the posers of forwards Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro seemingly making an effort, but without scoring, to the injury of Samir Nurkovic, a ban on transfer to a club with a team that needs to refresh in key positions, and how to present the young In the rough, Hunt’s question marks seem numerous. Add in, he says, veterans who struggle with conditioning.
“We couldn’t do a proper preseason in terms of where you go through the stages of what you want to do,” Hunt said Thursday in his pregame press conference for Sunday’s second leg against the Pirates at FNB Stadium.
“So it’s been a lot trying to go with a lot of what they had last year. Obviously minus Samir, which is a huge blow as he was critical to the way they played last year.
“And trying to find a way that best suits what we have available.
“But condition-wise, we need conditioning all over the place. Many of these players like ‘Tower’ [Erick Mathoho]”Kgotso Moleko, Leonardo Castro, we have to play with them in good shape.”
At his postgame press conference Wednesday night, Hunt, asked about Willard Katsande’s screeching performances and his apparent inability to finish a game, also alluded to the short preseason.
Katsande was substituted for the second time in two starts this season against the Galaxy, with another appearance off the bench. He’s not the only “older” Chiefs player who works.
“This season we are going to need everyone. The biggest problem with those [older] players there was no preseason, it was two weeks. And then on top of that they had the bubble, and then [four-month lockdown break] before that, ”Hunt said.
“I mention Tower. He has trained now for two days where I have not seen him in the last two weeks. I will try to play with him in shape. I’m going to try to play the Katsandes setting. That is all I can do.
“Younger players will get in shape faster, older players longer. And that is perhaps what happened to the bubble. Because once you stop when you reach a certain age, it can be very difficult for your legs to work again. That’s where you need the full six weeks [pre-season]. “
The psychological effect of not winning the league in the last half hour last season, on the Chiefs’ 50th anniversary campaign, missing the opportunity to finish five years without a trophy, could also add to Hunt’s roster of posers. The commitment of the players has also been questioned.
Stamping his identity into the philosophy and game plan when his predecessor Ernst Middendorp did well with a challenging squad, but also left a kind of firestorm from the fights he had with veteran players, is another.
Hunt’s scalp could take even more punishment as he searches for the answers.
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