Posted in News, Youth Academy on Sep 07, 2018.
Chiefs finished in fifth spot on the MDC log last season and won the following MultiChoice Diski Shield (MDS) competition. “We have been building the team for four years,” Zwane comments. “I believe we are now capable of winning the league this season.”
The likes of Given Thibedi, Siphosakhe Ngcobo and Itumeleng Shopane will all continue to play for the Reserve side.
Other quality players to watch this season are midfielder Sabelo Radebe, defender Njabulo Blom and the forward Lebohang Lesako.
Shopane has played over the last few seasons in a variety of position, from winger, striker to wing-back. “Itumeleng can play anywhere,” Zwane explains. “He’s a very versatile player, as a modern footballer should be. We want to develop players holistically, so that they can play in any position. Football has changed a lot in recent years. It’s no longer possible that a player can only play in one position.”
Several footballers from the Reserve side have gone on to play for the first team in recent years, including Bruce Bvuma, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, Hendrick Ekstein, Siyabonga Ngezana, Wiseman Meyiwa and Khotso Malope.
About Chiefs’ ambitions for the 2018/2019 MDC season, Zwane says: “Our ultimate goal is to develop players to be ready for the first team. However, there comes a time as well that we have to win things, like we did last season with the Shield competition.”
The MDC season will again consist of 15 matches. Arrows won the Challenge last season and will probably be a formidable force again.
“We have a tendency to start slowly in the MDC,” Zwane concludes, “picking up later on. We want to change this and want to go flat out from the beginning, collecting points early. It’s a just a mental thing we are working on. But this is Kaizer Chiefs, we want to finish and finish strong.”
The game between Kaizer Chiefs Reserves and Golden Arrows Reserves will be broadcasted live on the DSTV Channel, SS10 (channel 210) at 15:00.