Snl24 | 5 Areas Of Concern For Chiefs

BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 13: Kaizer Chiefs during the penalty shoot out during the CUFA Cup match between Marumo Gallants and Kaizer Chiefs at Toyota Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images)

With Kaizer Chiefs’ early season form now a thing of the past, Soccer Laduma looks at five areas of concern for Amakhosi. 

1. No competition for Sirino

Chiefs’ early form was inspired, in the main, by the quality and the rebirth of Gaston Sirino. However, since the injury of the 33-year-old, Amakhosi have struggled to be creative in the final third, in the two matches the Uruguayan had to start from the bench, in a 1-0 defeat to SuperSport United and 2-2 draw against Magesi. 

The Glamour Boys only improved after he was brought in the second stanza in both matches.

2. Left-back position not yet settled?

Bradley Cross has started in all the Chiefs games so far. However, when the chips were down against SuperSport and Magesi, Cross was sacrificed in both matches around the hour-mark. 

The concern around Cross could be his final delivery in the last third. But the decision to tamper with the back four cost Amakhosi against Magesi, after replacement Happy Mashiane conceded a needless free-kick on the edge of the box which was scored by their former striker Edmore Chirambadare.  

READ: Jansen: Chiefs Can Win The League This Season

3. Midfield combos not yet communicating

Nasreddine Nabi’s predecessors, at least last season, all struggled to find suitable midfield combinations, especially after the signing of Sibongiseni Mthethwa. 

With Mthethwa out of the picture under Nabi, the Tunisian is yet to find the basis of his midfield partnership, with Yusuf Maart, Smakelo Zwane, Njabulo Blom and the injured Edson Castillo all rotated. 

4. Chiefs boo boys destroy Chivaviro?

Chivaviro has not been himself and looks like a man down on confidence after he was booed and whistled to be substituted in a cup game against SuperSport United, a game Chiefs eventually won 4-0 and where he also scored. 

But the psychological effects could be long lasting, after the former Marumo Gallants striker could not make an impact in a 1-0 loss to United in the league and 2-2 draw against Magesi.  

READ: Nabi: I’m Here To Fulfil The Mission 

5. Ntwari not good enough for Chiefs?

Goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, signed to address a perceived goalkeeper crisis, with legend Itumeleng Khune’s contract not renewed and Bruce Bvuma not yet asserting himself, has kept one clean sheet in the seven games Chiefs has played so far.