Farouk Khan, a former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach and now TV pundit, believes Amakhosi’s newest recruits, with the exception of the three that have not been tested in the Absa Premiership, will help bring silverware next season.
On Monday Chiefs unveiled eight new players in local boys Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Sibusiso Khumalo, Enocent Mkhabela, Keagan Buchanan, Emmanuel Letlotlo and three foreign recruits - strikers Edmore Chirambadare, Michelle Katsvairo as well as Lewis Macha - to beef up the squad. This as they seek to avoid yet another barren season after the Glamour Boys reached two cup finals, which they failed to win. They also surrendered their league title to Mamelodi Sundowns by finishing fifth in the previous campaign.
In running the rule over the changes at Naturena, Khan argued that Chiefs have managed to address problem areas in their squad ahead of the 2016/17 season.
“I cannot comment much on the two players from Chicken Inn (Chirambadare and Katsvairo) because I only got to see them when they played Sundowns in the Champions League.
“The same goes for the Zambian (Macha), but the rest are decent signings,” he said.
And he would know what it takes to assemble a championship-winning side, Khan having been the late Ted Dumitru’s assistant when Amakhosi clinched the league title twice in 2004 and 2005.
“I know Buchanan personally and he is a very good ball player, one who will fit to coach Steve Komphela’s style. There was hardly any finality to their passing brand of football and I think he will give them that. They have enough cover with Willard Katsande still there and maybe Mkhabela, who didn’t see much game time at SuperSport United,” explained Khan.
“In Ramahlwe they have managed to get a versatile player because he can slot in at right-back and in central defence, where they have struggled since Tefu Mashamaite left. Ramahlwe, along with Khumalo, are products of the SA Under-20 team that played at the Youth World Cup in 2009 and they are gifted players with enough experience. I think Khumalo can take over from (first-choice left-back) Tsepo Masilela. He is one of the most underrated left-backs in the country and Tsepo doesn’t really have age on his side. I converted Khumalo from a striker to a defender when he was with us at the Stars of Africa Academy and he is truly gifted.”
Khan admitted he was as surprised as everyone else to learn that Ghanaian John Paintsil would replace Doctor Khumalo as Komphela’s assistant. Brazilian goalkeeper coach Alexandre Revoredo and his compatriot Marco Aurelio Munhoz, who is a physical trainer, have also been roped in to strengthen the technical team.
“From a coaching acumen I can’t really say much because I only know John as a player and obviously Steve knows him well enough because he worked with him at Maritzburg United. I think it is admirable that the club chairman (Kaizer Motaung) has allowed the coach to pick his people and there will be enough time during pre-season to decide if they need one or two signings,” Khan said. - The Star
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno