Strikers, so the saying in football goes, win you matches. But defences win you championships.
This much was proven by Kaizer Chiefs last season when they captured the championship on the back of a solid defensive display that saw Amakhosi concede a miserly 14 goals in their 30 Absa Premiership matches. Before them, Gavin Hunt had guided SuperSport United to three successive league titles with the hallmark of Matsatsantsa’s play being the strength of their rearguard.
As Chiefs attempt to retain their title under the guidance of new coach Steve Komphela, pictured, Hunt and many other elite league coaches would have been pleased to see Amakhosi leak in a massive three goals in their MTN8 semi-final win over Maritzburg United.
It was the first time since their defeat by Congolese side AS Vita back in 2013 that Chiefs have had the opposition put three past them; the last time Chiefs conceded three goals in the league was in August 2013.
But while they were pathetic in defence on Wednesday night, the rest of the league will do well to not get too carried away.
For one, Chiefs were incredibly efficient in staging a second half comeback that saw them overhaul Maritzburg’s 2-0 half-time lead and then go ahead only for Siyanda Xulu to score an own goal that resulted in the match going into extra-time.
But more importantly should be the fact that the central defensive pairing of Xulu and Ivan Bukenya is unlikely to be the way Komphela goes this season. Once Erick Mathoho, who was a splendid performer alongside the departed Tefu Mashamaite, recovers from his injury he will take his rightful place in the heart of the defence to give Chiefs the solidity that they are used to.
And there’s also the likelihood of Itumeleng Khune returning in goal to lend his star quality to the side’s rearguard and ensure the defending champions are veryhard to breach.
That done, Chiefs are sure to be hard to beat as Komphela seeks to join Pitso Mosimane as the only black coaches to win the Premiership titles.
For in attack, Amakhosi look like they will be much better than they were under Stuart Baxter – Komphela having made it clear that he will have them playing expansive and positive football.
Already on Wednesday night it was clear to see that the club is beginning to understand what their new coach needs – Chiefs taking the game to Maritzburg from the first whistle and attacking them with pace and in varied forms – directly and from the wings.
What Komphela will need to cut out from his team’s play though is what appeared to be over-elaboration and an attempt to walk the ball into the net.
And as Maritzburg proved in the first half, Chiefs will have to be very careful not to leave themselves open to counter-attacks. For while the Team of Choice allowed them back in the game, the likes of SuperSport, Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns will not let a 2-0 lead slip away.
Still, it would appear Chiefs will be hard to dethrone as Absa Premiership champions. They begin the defence of their title where they were crowned last season, at Chippa United tomorrow.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES:
Tomorrow: Free State Stars v Black Aces (Goble Park); Polokwane City v Bloemfontein Celtic (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium) – both 3pm; Platinum Stars v Mamelodi Sundowns (Royal Bafokeng Stadium); Bidvest Wits v Ajax Cape Town (Bidvest Stadium) – both 8.15pm
Sunday: Golden Arrows v University of Pretoria (Chatsworth Stadium); Chippa United v Kaizer Chiefs (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium). Both 3pm
Monday: Maritzburg United v Jomo Cosmos (Harry Gwala Stadium, 5pm)
Tuesday: SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates (Peter Mokaba Stadium, 7.30pm) - The Star