We will get it right in time – Zwane

On what has cost the team in their recent run of league defeats:
What has been our downfall is the habit of ball watching when we are defending. It has cost us in our games, where we concede cheap goals. When we’re switched on – when we’re always ready to pick up the second balls and to play that forward pass – we look more effective. That is why at training we ended up saying to them let us play one touch football, that will force you to be in support. We just hope we can take that into the game. It gives us the advantage that even when we lose possession we remain on the front foot and can easily counter press. If we can take that into the game, we fancy our chances. There have been a lot of good things in (recent) games, apart from the goals we’ve conceded. 

On the state of the Chiefs camp ahead of Tuesday’s home game against Marumo Gallants:

The boys are looking forward to the game. We’ve not been getting the results, but the energy levels look super. We just hope they can take the same energy into the game and give us a positive result. 

On the threat posed by Gallants:

We are playing against a possession-based team, who want to keep the ball and wait for the right moment before they attack and we have to guard against that. They make you to sleep and once you drop your guard or slow down, they play that forward pass very quickly. They’re very comfortable on the ball. We will be ready for that and we will give them something to think about when we are in possession of the ball. We will make sure we get into the right spaces and take the right options as well, and then punish them when we create those goalscoring opportunities.

On how the team has adapted to recent coaching changes:

Expansive football sometimes takes a lot from players to adjust. You can see something good, but you find that by the time you get to the final third the energy levels have dropped a little bit, the concentration levels as well. We want that consistency and it will take some time. But as soon as everyone is in the loop and understands his roles and responsibilities clearly, it will make our lives easy. 

On what is expected from Chiefs once they adapt to the change:

We will take our chances, create a lot of goalscoring opportunities and we know we will convert them. Let’s say if you create eight clearcut chances in a game, you can easily take four, and that’s how Kaizer Chiefs are supposed to play. We have to create chances, if we lose the game let’s lose the game saying we created a number of chances, we missed them, and now we can work on the finishing at training. Otherwise, as long as there is that structure, tactical understanding and technical flexibility, and also that organisation when we defend, there is no doubt we will get it right in time.

On his role during a difficult run-in to the league season and state of the squad:

It’s about motivating the players, as much as the games are coming thick and fast and we are also experiencing injuries in the camp. There’s five players on three yellow cards. Those who are not available for this game are Samir (Nurkovic), who has a niggling injury. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo is also not available for selection, he’s got an injury. We have those who have been out, like Lebo (Manyama) and (Sfiso) Hlanti. Happy Mashiane will come in and will start on the bench.