Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has stated that finishing and confidence in front of goal are still issues that persist for his side.
Despite their strong start to the season, Chiefs have stumbled since the departure of coach Nasreddine Nabi. They have not won a domestic game since he disappeared from the sideline and were bounced from the Carling Knockout in the first round after losing to Stellenbosch on penalties.
AmaKhosi still have a good record in the Betway Premiership, having won four games, drawn three and lost only one. However, Kaze believes that confidence in front of goal is still a major issue for his side.
“The things that I believe that we have to work more on it, it’s our confidence because the situation of scoring, we get them. There is no issue with the last pass or, you know, the last decision making for the pass, they are there, but we need to raise our awareness in front of the net. We need to be hungry for the ball to put numbers in the box,” said Kaze, speaking ahead of Chiefs’ league game against Siwelele on Wednesday.
Returning to their home ground on Wednesday to hoist Siwelele, Kaze stated his team’s performances at FNB Stadium have been good and he is intent on turning it into a fortress.
“You know, I’m very positive about how we started the league, how we played at FNB [Stadium], because the last two games we missed [a] penalty both games. We missed an open chance when the player, you know, pushed the ball while the ball [was] already going in and we should have won those two games. We had a possession percentage of more than 65% in both games […] We looked [like] a team that was playing to win the game [more] than a team that was just there to play.”
Kaze was quick to point out that his side are six points behind the log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with two games in hand.
AmaKhosi will no doubt be looking to close the gap with a win at home, but the coach still cited finishing as an area for improvement.
“I think that we are, we are very well, we are very well, we are in a good space at FNB, we are, we are trying and we are in a good way of playing. Our style of playing is clear. The lineup is consistent. The performances are consistent, despite maybe that upfront we need to do more and be clinical. And believe me, we are working very hard on that every day,” he said.
Siwelele could prove to be a tough opponent as the newcomers are starting to find their feet under head coach Lehlohonolo Seema.
They went into the international break having secured their second league victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants and came close to pushing a powerful Orlando Pirates side to extra time in their Carling Knockout clash.
Kaze is certainly not underestimating his next opponent and knows his team will be in for a challenge at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
“It’s true that they didn’t start well this season, but I believe that the last games that they have played, they look like they are, you know, piecing together. They are putting together their pieces and they are getting better every day. It’s going to be a very difficult game. It’s going to be a very difficult game against a team that even if they didn’t start the season well, it’s a team that I feel they defend well,” he said.
