Posted in News, Team News on Mar 19, 2017.
Coach Steve Komphela was visibly disappointed after Saturday night’s two-all draw against Baroka FC. Kaizer Chiefs lost out on two points due to having conceded easy goals, he felt.
However, there were positive words for the Amakhosi fans, who came in great numbers to the stadium and were very vocal in their support of the Glamour Boys. “The supporters were magnificent,” Komphela reflected, “they deserved the three points.”
Chiefs started the game against Baroka very well, which resulted in an early goal for Erick Mathoho. It was his first league goal of the season. The lanky defender performed, as usual, well and was partnered in the centre of defence by Daniel Cardoso.
The home side scored the equaliser four minutes later, but it was Amakhosi that went 2-1 up into the dressing room at half-time, thanks to Bernard Parker’s well-taken penalty. It was the attacker’s fourth goal of this Absa Premiership campaign. Amazingly, all these goals came in Chiefs’ last eight league matches. It means that ‘Die Hond’ is on a good run of form.
Baroka upped the tempo in the second half, which led to their second goal. This resulted in the encounter in Polokwane ending in a stalemate.
“Our strength is to play with the ball at our feet with some good passing movements,” Komphela added, “and every time we did that, we threatened them.”
The coach was reflecting on the numerous passes that went astray, especially in the second half, which put pressure on Amakhosi’s defence.
The club is now on an unbeaten run of nine league games (ten including last week’s cup fixture), since the goalless draw against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday, 14 December 2016. The unbeaten run includes four draws. “That’s too many,” lamented Komphela, “we should have won at least a few of those games. We need to improve on this.”
The coach feels that Chiefs are still in the running for the Absa Premiership title, only being three points behind log leaders Cape Town City (39 points versus 36, both from 21 matches).
“It is crunch time in the league and every point is important,” Komphela commented. “We will remain calm. The league is far from decided. We will never give up.”
Amakhosi’s next league fixture is at home against Mamelodi Sundowns. This will be a must-win for the Glamour Boys, because even though the Brazilians are presently one position behind us, they have collected 34 points from 17 outings.
This crucial clash will be played at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 1 April (20:15). Don’t miss out on what promises to be a cracker.