Johannesburg - Since Kaizer Chiefs can’t win a game and their coach Steve Komphela admitted that he is beginning to sound like a stuck record, there were not a lot of positives to take from the goalless draw between Amakhosi and Ajax Cape Town at the weekend.
Apart from grimacing at the missed scoring opportunities by the Chiefs attackers, here are the FIVE things were learnt:
1. Worst title defence from the Glamour Boys
Saturday night’s stalemate in their own backyard, preceded by log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns collecting yet another three points after thumping Jomo Cosmos, confirmed that Chiefs were now mathematically out of the championship race. Komphela’s men once again failed to clinch victory, stretching the winless run to eight matches in all competitions. It is looking likely that Komphela, a former Bafana Bafana captain, will hold the dubious record of being at the helm during the club’s worst defence of a league title. Amakhosi are currently fourth on the table, and given their recent showing could slip further down.
2. Speechless Komphela (we didn’t see that coming)
Arguably the Premier Soccer League’s most eloquent coach, Komphela ran out of things to say in his post-match press conference following the goalless draw. Instead of repeating what he has been saying since February 23, when the winless run began, Komphela told the gallery: “You can go back and look for the previous tapes and I will probably be using the same words again to give my analysis of the game. Not much has changed.”
3. Chiefs tried to solve their problems with no forwards
If you want to argue that Bernard Parker is an out-an-out striker, then be my guest. “Benni” as a No 9 hasn’t worked for sometime now and definitely did not work on Saturday night. For the second time in a week, Komphela put his hopes on a man who is more of midfielder than a goal-poacher to end Amakhosi’s poor run. Even when Chiefs had all the possession and countless entries into the Ajax penalty box, there was no place Camaldine Abraw and Edward Manqele in the team. The visitors were unlucky not to punish Chiefs when Nathan Paulse - a proven No 9 - struck the post late in the game.
4. New MTN8 champions?
Like Chiefs, Ajax’s attempt to get into the top 8 bracket, which gives them a chance to defend their trophy early next season, has been a disaster. The Urban Warriors remained in ninth place at the weekend and have just five matches to fight to get back into the lucrative competition at the start of the 206/17 campaigns. Maybe Chiefs are happy to make some space?
5. Roger de Sa versus Referees
Asked why he made the unusual choice to sit on the left side of the dugout rather than the right like his counterparts, Ajax coach De Sa explained that he was trying to keep some distance between himself and the fourth official. Their relationship has not been rosy over the past few years, with some expletives being exchanged during matches, leaving the PSL no choice but to give De Sa a slap on the wrist. “It is just better for me and everyone if there is no contact between me the fourth official,” the coach said. Don’t come out your technical area then, Roger.
The Star