Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates - The determination
of pre-season games is to fine-tune the tactics and techniques which also
include finding right combination before the commencement of the Premier Soccer
League season by experimenting new and old combination of players. Over the weekend we had another big game in
the calendar of Mzansi diski. We had a spectacular game between South Africa’s
biggest teams. The game was played in front of almost 93 000 fans.
Kaizer
Chiefs looked set for a win as Abia Nale goal inside the first 10 minutes
looked as though it would be enough to seal victory but with just seconds
remaining on the clock, Ever-shining Benni McCarthy jumped higher that towering
defenders Mulomowandau Mathoho and Morgan Gould to send the games to penalties
shootout. Eventually, Pirates won 5-4 to claim second CBL Cup in a row.
The
Benni McCarthy last seconds goal brought back the memory of the 26 May 1999
during the UEFA Champions League Final at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. Bayern Munich lost UEFA Champions League in
the referee’s optional time (injury time) after leading 1-0, but in the 90:36
with 2 minutes and 24 seconds to go, Manchester United scored an equalizer
through Paul "Teddy" Sheringham and again at 92:17 with only 43
seconds to go, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal for Manchester United
to clinch UEFA Champions League trophy in the last 3 minutes of the injury
time.
Indeed
ain't over until the fat lady sings is a colloquialism, essential meaning that
one should not assume the outcome of the match until it has actual finished.
Coming
back to Carling Black Label Cup, it was an exciting and eye-pleasing pre-season
derby game between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, but I noticed some few
technical blunders that needs to be rectified going forward from both sides.
Orlando Pirates tactical
and technical blunders
-
Pirates build up from the back was too slowly going forward.
-
Both left and right wings were ineffective in the first half which lead to
insufficient balls supply upfront to Benni McCarthy and Thulasizwe 'Juju'
Mbuyane.
-
Pirates lost most of its attacking balls in the last quarter of the field.
-
Poor aerial ball anticipation and lack of pace thereafter by Bheki Nzunga
exposed Pirates at the back which lead to Chiefs goal.
-
Oupa ‘Ace’ Manyisa and Andile Jali played apart from each other which affected
the famous Ace and Jali functioning like a well oiled machine.
Kaizer Chiefs tactical
and technical blunders
-
The attacking force of Chiefs was non-existed as Bernard Parker played too deep
leaving Lehlohonolo Majoro ineffective alone upfront.
-
The forced change of speedy George Lebese by Siyabonga Nkosi didn't change the
complexion of the game as Nkosi lacks pace going forward. He is a good ball
passer but in modern football, pace is an ingredient of complete creative
player.
-
Playing same 3 players in the middle-of-park Reneilwe 'Yeye' Letsholonyane,
Josta ‘JD’ Dladla and Siyabonga "16 valve" Nkosi limited Chiefs attacking
and its ability to play from the wings. There trio are good ball players but
lacked blistering pace to trouble Orlando Pirates defence.
-
After scoring a goal, Chiefs was defensive protecting the lead and the
intention of defending was solidified when Abie Nale was replaced by Keegan
Ritchie instead of effective winger like Mandla Masango. I wonder what was the Stuart
Baxter's motive to implement defensive tactics in a pre-season game. Parking a
bus is alien tactics to Chiefs but a normal tactics in British football.
Remember Chelsea parking a double deck bus against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions
League last 4.
- Elapsing of concentration by Chiefs defence
in the dying minutes of the game cost them the taste of the Carling Black Label
Cup. The famous words of former Chiefs coach, Paul Dolezar started to
reverberate in mind when he described his defence last minute blunder against Mamelodi
Sundowns in Rothmans Cup final of 1996/1997. "One minute to go, one mistake,
one million is gone, it is a criminal". He uttered those
unbelievable words live on TV in the final of cup competition dubbed "it’s
unbelievable"
The
least said about the penalties the better. Penalties are like Lotto…
unpredictable. I won't comment about Andrea Pirlo look-a-like penalty and also
Sergio Ramos look-a-like missed against Bayern Munich.
Overall Carling Black
Label Cup performance
12
substitutions made in the second period affected the flow of the game as it was
never managed to live up to the buzz of the opening 45 minutes.
Ratings - 7/10
By Owen Mundalamo
Football Food for
Thought
Tweet @shudulizah
