“It will be a tough return leg in Casablanca,” Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter said after Saturday’s 1-0 loss in the CAF Champions League against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca. “Sure, they will play better at home. However, I certainly feel that it is not over yet.”

The Amakhosi supporters turned up in numbers at Durban’s Moses Mabihida Stadium. They sang and blew their vuvuzelas, creating an excellent vibe. It’s a pity that the team couldn’t reward the crowd’s vocal support with goals, despite numerous chances coming the home side’s way.

“We dominated possession in the first half,” Baxter reflected. “Even though it didn’t result in any real penetration of Raja’s defence. We changed some things at halftime and, as a result, we got some real opportunities in the second half. I was happy with the performance, but not with the lack of goals and the result.

The coach also commented on Brilliant Khuzwayo’s return to the starting line-up, relegating Itumeleng Khune to the bench. “Itu was injured for a long time and he has just returned to the team. We don’t want to overplay him at this stage. Besides that, we have three good goalkeepers. We play them all in the Cup competitions. It’s all part of a rotation plan.”

Baxter, however, was disappointed about the way the goal was conceded: “It was the same as against Maritzburg United on Wednesday. The defending was horrendous in both cases.”

On the positive side, the Chiefs coach indicated being happy with the performances of striker Katlego Mphela, who had his first start this season, and the young midfielder Hendrick Ekstein, who came on as a substitute.

“We played better against Raja than in some games we won,” concluded Baxter, “but goalscoring is part of the game. You don’t score, you don’t win. And, of course, that’s a worry. However, the team is working hard to rectify this problem.”

The return leg of the African Champions League’s first round will be played in Morocco’s city of Casablanca on Sunday, April 5.