HERMAN GIBBS
Comment
While new coach Nasreddine Nabi may want to rebuild Kaizer Chiefs’ style of play from scratch, he must remember that he is working with the bulk of the squad that conceded 30 goals in as many games last season.
And if the Tunisian had not made a mental note of last season’s persistent leak, he would have been reminded about this when Chiefs were handed a 4-0 hiding by Tanzania’s reigning champions, Young Africans, in the inaugural Toyota Cup in Bloemfontein earlier this month. The Tanzanians said afterwards that their dominance was worth more than the eventual four goals.
Friday's training session at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena #Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/ijnqIXLaaG
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) August 16, 2024
As an experienced tactician, Nabi will know that a well-structured and disciplined defensive line will be of utmost importance if Chiefs harbour hopes of ending a trophyless decade. Without making it obvious, Chiefs have not had much success when knocking on the doors of local clubs during the current transfer window.
A case in point is the Stellenbosch defender Fawaaz Basadien, who is on Chiefs’ wanted list. Yesterday, several Angola-based reports said defender Inacio Miguel has completed a move from Petro Luanda to Chiefs.
Neither club have said a word about the deal but Miguel’s Petro Luanda teammate, goalkeeper Hugo Marques, has let the cat out of the bag. Marques, who is well-known to SA footy fans because he is a former Cape Town City player, posted a farewell message with a Chiefs badge on social media to Miguel: “Make history in the land of Madiba.”
The four-time capped Angola international is a sound acquisition in defence and was one of the standout players in the Tanzanian domestic league last season. He can play on either side of the defence and is equally at home at centre-back. He has Champions League experience.
Nabi would also have been alerted to his squad’s defensive deficiencies following the injuries to Edmilson Dove and new signing Bongani Sam at the pre-season camp in Türkiye. Very likely they will return to action at the end of September, by which time Chiefs will have played four Premiership matches already.
Last week, Chiefs signed the Cape Town Spurs defender Rushwin Dortley but he may not be quite ready to be a permanent fixture in the defence, which is likely to feature the regulars Given Msimango, Zitha Kwinika and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe in the friendlies lined up before the season starts on September 14.
Dortley, who opted for Chiefs even though there were two other clubs in the market for his services, is certainly a talent for the future but must be given a chance to find his feet in a team where pressure is always a factor.
Another new signing, Fiacre Ntwari, will be an important part of the squad’s defensive unit. The TS Galaxy goalkeeper was a surprise purchase because Chippa United’s Nigerian international goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was widely tipped to make the move to Chiefs.
Yesterday, goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was a conspicuous absentee from training at the club’s Naturena training venue. He is nursing a finger injury. It could mean that newcomer Ntwari could be doing duty sooner rather than later along with another squad shot-stopper, Bruce Bvuma.