“We were pleased with periods in the game,” Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter reacted after the Mamelodi Sundowns encounter. “And not pleased with other periods.” The Amakhosi and the Brazilians played to a 1-1 draw at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

“I was not happy with the fact that when we did break down the Sundowns defence,” continues Baxter. “We failed to tie it up. Too often our strikers flashed at the ball, instead of slowing it down when being in a goal scoring position. We must be more clinical in front of the goal.”

“We woke up after Sundowns scored the opening goal. But we still made some terrible mistakes. From one of those, the visitors nearly scored again. Toward the end of the game, it became a bit sluggish from both sides with no one having the composure for the final knock out.”

“However, it was good to see that we again showed character after going a goal down. On the other hand, some of the players who had been on national duty with Bafana – Erick Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite, Mandla Masango, Yeye Letsholonyane and Brilliant Khuzwayo – looked a bit tired, especially Mandla. That’s why I replaced him at halftime, it was a tactical change. However, it does mean that we will probably rotate a bit for Tuesday’s match against Polokwane City.”

Baxter also felt it is a pity that the Reserve League doesn’t have the same fixture timeline as the Absa Premiership. At present the Reserve League is having a break, waiting for the knock out stage to start early next year (with Chiefs not having qualified). A full fixture Reserve League would have meant that the Amakhosi coach could have given some game time to Itumeleng Khune and Katlego Mphela, who are coming back from injury.

“The introduction of the Reserve League is a massive step up for South African soccer,” explains Baxter. “However, not having it now means that it is difficult to judge when Itumeleng and Katlego will be ready again for first team action. Because if we bring them too early, it can result in a set-back. Especially for Khune this can’t be easy, as he needs game time before the break and before the Bafana Bafana coach finalises his squad for the Afcon early next year.”

The Amakhosi coach also mentioned that, because of the African Champions League next year, he would like to bolster his squad with “one or two signings”.

Coming back to the Sundowns match, Baxter concludes: “The supporters will think that it was an entertaining match. In the end the draw was probably a fair result.”

Chiefs stay on top of the Absa Premiership log with 29 points from 11 games played. Ajax Cape Town are in second position with 18 points from 11 matches, while Sundowns are in fourth position with 17 from 11.