Where is Kaizer Chiefs?

It’s not a crisis but I just need to ask: Bra K (Kaizer Motaung), Bobby Motaung and Doctor Khumalo, with all due respect, where is Kaizer Chiefs?

I saw this defeat coming and these are the reasons:

1. Speed kills, especially if it’s applied with strategy and direction. Chiefs is just too fast for their own at times (mostly). They make too many mistakes just because everybody is thinking about quickly running forward. They lack composure, therefore deny themselves that crucial moment to view options and make right decisions!

2. Lack of wing play! It’s like it’s now a crime at Chiefs to attach wide!! Chiefs’ attack is running forward, straight through the middle – boring and predictable.

3. In-accurate passing of the ball. Again because of the speed, players don't take the time make that perfect pass. Everybody is running! How many passes ended behind the running player? How many passes went straight at the opponent? I counted 15! 15 until I stopped!

4. Defence always back-paddling! I saw many situations where a defender could have just taken a step or two forward to win the ball or even make a simple tackle, but the go backward! Suicide when you playing the likes of pirates attackers. Their defence stopped us by the applying the opposite!

5. Lack of a play-maker. Now, this has always been the centre of Chiefs play. Somebody who dictates terms, issue instructions, influence direction and Yes, pace! We can't just run forward all the time - somebody who is a leader on the field, who talks to players and spread the message.

Now the above are not the mistakes that happened only yesterday but they have become Chiefs play! Boring and predictable!

What Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa did was just to use the Bidvest Wits defence and Pirates attack! Close us quickly leaving us no space, therefore frustrating us and it worked. We panicked and got frustrated and lost it! The tackle that led to a goal was unnecessary and stupid. Lennox Bacela didn't even see him coming!!! All he had to do was just take the ball or kick it away without even touching Bacele! We allowed them to play by not Man-Marking but applying territorial defence (marking the space) and the ripped us apart! Combine that with Back-Paddling and it’s a disaster! We were lucky to get 1. We should have got 4 or 5!

And lastly, Who ever said at Chiefs we don't man-mark wingers? When you allow a winger like Tlou Segolela all the time to not only receive the ball, but the luxury to trap, turn and advance without being marked then you are inviting trouble! And this as well has become Chiefs play! We back-paddle, we don't tight mark, we don't defend our wings! Not only don't we defend our wings but we also do use our wings when we attack! Did anybody see a decent cross yesterday? None! The only one occasion we did we nearly got an own goal! Now that's how effective wing attack is. If the above are not addressed urgently, we may as well kiss the Glory goodbye. Our boring, running, straight and predictable football is not effective anymore. Every coach is by now ready for it.

Bobby, please sign a play-maker urgently! The speed is killing us and we lately have nothing to show for it. It works as a surprise, not as all we have! I watch Chiefs play; I see Manning Ranger or Cape Town Spurs! Running, long ball and straight attack. Where is the flair? Where is the trigonometry that Paul Dolezar once played? Where are the Doctor Khumalo's back splitting passes? Where are the crosses? Where are the touchline attackers of Teenage Dladla and Scara Ngobese? Who is the Marshall in that defence?

Where is Lucas Radebe? Where is our Ace? Where is left back and right back? I'm talking about Ntsie Maphike and Rudolf Seale? Where are wingers? Who told Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala not to pass other players? Who told Shabba not to stop and look for options! Who told Reneilwe Letsholonyane to start running? Why George Lebese not being encouraged to play at the wing? He would be more effective there! Who said Siboniso Gaxa is a winger? He lacks composure!!! Running faster and then just kicking the ball doesn't make a player an effective winger! It requires skill, composure, accuracy and yes pace.

A young player from Pirates played his debut derby and marshaled their midfield! Composure, accuracy and positioning! Basics! Doesn't Chiefs development have a new jewel they can throw into the deep end? To come in and be the play maker? If not, the Bobby must go up in Africa and search for such a player! We are sick and tired of the Speed tickets! Speed kills!!

Doctor, don't you want to see your younger self marshalling that midfield? Why are you silent? How do expect Chiefs to play without a Teenage, Ace or a Doctor? What kind of a Chiefs would that be?

WHERE IS KAIZER CHIEFS?

By Sir-Lesley BlackLife Chiloane