The reasons behind Kaizer Chiefs success in the PSL

Kaizer Chiefs' football manager Bobby Motaung deserves compliments for assembling strong, vibrant and competent squad. In the past two years, Motaung opened his cheque book to acquire the services of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) best players adding positive value in the team. Motaung was very cautious when signing players for Chiefs. Most of the players were signed after meticulously gap analysis than purchasing players available free transfer players. Motaung recruitment policy is yielding positive results and promoting healthy competition in the team.

It is a well-known fact that Chiefs has the best defence in the PSL led by the Bafana Bafana number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune surrounded by current and former Bafana international defenders. To this end, Khune has achieved 10 clean sheets from 19 PSL games which is an amazing record.

Chiefs has solid engine room led by the Zimbabwean International anchorman Willard Katsande. Katsande is providing the spine for the team in the engine room winning all the important challenges legal or illegal. However, his partner Reneilwe Letsholonyane complements Katsande hard work by adding the offensive ability to balance the engine room. Letsholonyane is responsible to initiate many Chiefs offensive moves.

Chiefs has an effective wing play with versatile players. Siphiwe Tshabalala is flexible playing in both wings creating goalscoring opportunities and also scoring important goals. George Lebese is very strong at the left wing but he needs to improve on his defensive ability to be a complete modern left winger. Bernard Parker can also score avalanches of goals as a right winger. Chiefs has balance wingers with an ability to create and scoring goals.

Chiefs has the one of the most effective striking combo in the PSL. They have a hustler Kingston Nkhatha who uses his bulky physique to penetrate defence to score goals. They have Knowledge Musona who uses his tricky and blistering pace to trouble defenders and scoring goals. They have the current PSL leading goalscorer Parker with best composure and goal scoring techniques and recently, added another striking gem Katlego Mphela with a proven goal scoring ability but now struggling with fitness.

Chiefs has an excellent master tactician Stuart Baxter. Baxter started the season with ultra-defensive tactics. He was criticised for playing 7 defenders in 3-1 defeat against SuperSport United and playing Eric Mathoho as striker in 1-0 defeat against Ajax Cape Town, but he learnt from his tactical blunders by reverting to an effective 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 which are yielding good results.

Chiefs fans deserve a credit too by providing the much needed 12^th player. Every game is a home game for Chiefs as supporters are always out-numbering any other PSL teams. They are the most successful and supported team in South Africa.

By Owen Mundalamo