Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs general manager Bobby Motaung is not panicking after Amakhosi's stunning 4-1 MTN8 opening round defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
“But we're all only human and capable of having an off-day. I don't think there is any cause to panic after one such experience,” he said on Monday.
Motaung said the loss was certainly a shock.
“Losing is one thing. But conceding four goals in little more than the opening 30 minutes and virtually losing the game at this point is something else.”
Motaung said the irony of Chiefs' demise against their Pretoria rivals was that new club coach Stuart Baxter had prepared the team meticulously all week before the match.
“ 1/8W 3/8e thought we had covered all the bases in the process.”
The Chiefs general manager suggested a degree of complacency might have crept in as a consequence. In addition, he explained that several new defensive players had been signed, and that they had not had enough time to form a cohesive unit.
“It was hard to believe,” said Motaung, “that three of the four goals against us were scored following set pieces, and this is something elementary.”
Ironically, following the signing of international stars Morgan Gould and Siboniso Gaxa, and with current Bafana Bafana number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune behind them, many in the Chiefs camp had boasted the club had an impregnable backline.
“Following the Carling Cup defeat against our traditional rivals, Orlando Pirates, the previous week, it is understandable that our army of supporters are feeling some pain.
“But remember we would have beaten Pirates had we not conceded a careless injury-time goal, and the penalty shoot-out defeat only materialised in a pre-season warm-up to the new season.
“I believe the hiccups will be eliminated before the start of the Premier League campaign against AmaZulu this weekend, and we'll get back on track.
“No need to panic,” he repeated with conviction, revealing that Chiefs were busy making an additional one or two signings before the month-end transfer deadline. – Sapa