Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter will again find his position under heavy scrutiny following his side’s loss to SuperSport United on Saturday night.
Here, Banele Pikwa analyses the gaffer’s approach.
Baxter made three changes following the previous goalless draw against TS Galaxy, one of which was enforced as Keagan Dolly was suspended. Kearyn Baccus and Austin Dube were the other players to make way. Khama Billiat returned after missing the last match due to suspension, Phathutshedzo Nange was preferred to add steel in midfield and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was given a rare start in the attacking three.
🚨 DStv Premiership Reactions
— Front Runner (@FrunSports) April 18, 2022
⚽️ Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Supersport United
🗣️ SB on the home record - It's a massive concern of course. With our support we should make this a fortress.
📹 Full Presser: https://t.co/smhg6HuxQ3#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/ACTaZ6VYgO
Tactics
Chiefs selected two centre-backs Siyabonga Ngezana and Ramahlwe Mphahlele with Nange and Cole Alexander sitting in front of the defence. The hope was that they could absorb pressure and look to hit SuperSport on the break through the likes of Billiat, Ngcobo and Nurkovic. It was a plan that looked like it would work as Chiefs created plenty of goal-scoring opportunities, some were easier to score than to miss.
However, SuperSport managed to close down Chiefs and the lack of creativity in midfield showed. When Nange and Cole got the ball, they looked disjointed, sluggish and short of options.
I don’t know why Baxter is expecting Ngcobo to chase the ball when we dont have it, he’s a creative midfielder/attacker that’s his strength and that can’t be used against him.
— Ingelosi (@Ta_Fitty) April 17, 2022
Reaction
Baxter had to act after the break and did so, introducing Leonardo Castro for Nurkovic and switching to a 4-3-3 with Billiat and Ngcobo following Castro. The idea was presumably that the Colombian was brought in to provide direction and be the focal point. While Chiefs were trying to regroup and find themselves after the tactical change, SuperSport United punished AmaKhosi and took the lead via a Thamsanqa Gabuza strike.
SuperSport were simply too strong and managed the game well. Chiefs still could not gain any meaningful possession or create anything of substance. Further changes to personnel also had little effect even the likes of Sabelo Radebe and Kgaogelo Sekgota who were brought in late didn’t have any impact.
🗣Chiefs fans: “Baxter must go.” pic.twitter.com/CGEC2EqutL
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) April 16, 2022
Substitutes
Castro was largely a disappointment as he has been the whole season, he was unable to make an impression. It was a similar story for Radebe and Sekgota, two other players capable of making a difference but not able to get into the game because they were brought in late and the damage was done.
Even if Chiefs gets Mbule, Sithebe, Maart, Du Preez next season still they won’t play
— ThatGuyYouDontKnowYet (@fisto_sumting) April 17, 2022
Why even bother signing them when we know Baxter will continue playing Parker,Manyama,Cole and Nange?
We have Zuma, Sekgota, Ngcobo, Radebe and Mashiane who can turn things around pic.twitter.com/1WOjUYoj0T
Final impression
This was another difficult night for Baxter. The defeat put him firmly in the spotlight and fans were chanting Baxter must go. Kaizer Chiefs have not won any of their matches played at the FNB Stadium this year and worse they’ve failed to score in each of their four home matches.
Chiefs’ dismal run at the FNB Stadium this year:
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 TS Galaxy (Nedbank Cup)
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Golden Arrows
Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 TS Galaxy
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 SuperSport United
Those four matches alone indicate that there is a serious problem at Kaizer Chiefs.
#KaizerChiefs | Stuart Baxter insists fans won’t lead to his axing at Kaizer Chiefs
— Game On SA (@GameonSA1) April 19, 2022
The calls for his departure come after some of the club’s faithful felt the former #bafanabafana couch was not the right candidate for the job, instead preferred Arthur Zwane#Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/ph33jHSUAw
