Kaizer Chiefs won a third successive game with a 1-0 score line as they edged Richards Bay at Soccer City last weekend in what proved a rather apathetic performance in the DStv Premiership and hardly raised any enthusiasm from interim coach Cavin Johnson.
The interim coach at Naturena gave his reflection on the win and the immediate future for Chiefs.
On the win over Richards Bay
“We won the game but we made too many errors for me, in certain moments in the game where I thought we could have held the ball better, could have gone further up the pitch with a lot more finesse like we trained, but we tend to put ourselves under a lot of pressure. The first half I think we did a little bit in the first 20 minutes, there sort of was a lot of energy in the team. We had maybe one or two, I think, clear chances where we should have scored. The decision making to shoot, or to pass, was not good and then we lose the ball, and we know we playing against a counter attack team and then they come at you. But in the second half it was a lot more difficult because I think they must want it. But, be as it may be, we won the game and we carry on. We’ll try and fix up what happened and hopefully we’ll get it right.”
On a third straight victory and building a winning culture
“Well, in one moment, yes, maybe, but not for me. I think we need to much be much better. And like I told the players, three in a row we celebrate, but for me, that’s not Kaizer Chiefs. It might sound like I’m unhappy. But I’m the leader of this team. And the leader has to take responsibility for a lot of things. The players have to feel what it is really like to play for Chiefs.”
On a fluid approach to the game
“It’s important that we identify quicker when to score the goals, or when to push, to have the action finished. And we need to get there. We brought in (Jasond) Gonzalez, we brought in (Edson) Castillo and maybe that could also change it all a little bit, but they’ve been playing. At the training, it works. On the field, when there’s a few thousand supporters behind you, it’s not going like you want it to go. So yeah. Like I told them, we stitch the cloth halfway and then we pull out a few stitches. And now you got to put the stitches back plus. So we got our work cut out for us.”
On more aggression needed from his team
“Remember, when the league started, people were bullying Chiefs. We need to make sure that we get to that level and getting to that level is major, major work. It’s going to take us a while to get to that level, where we know what we do. We need to get there. But to get there is difficult because in the beginning of the season, we were bullied as well. And now after three games, maybe the bullying is a little bit over, maybe we’re going to get more confident.”
On wanting new players in the next transfer window
At the moment, nothing. I don’t want any players. Because I think that the time I’ve spent with them is far too little. Has any coach, changed the players in just over two months? No. So at the moment, there are some patterns that look like they work, but they’re not working all the time. We need to make sure it’s repetition after repetition, in order to make them work, so that they can be better players. And I said this, you join Chiefs as a good player, and if you’re the coach, then I should make you a better player.
On injuries
“Ox’s (Sibongiseni Mthethwa) injury training was at training. Yes, he hurt his ankle, a freak accident and we sent him for X rays. According to the medical team, he has to stay out for a little bit. Whether it be back for Afcon or next ready for the next game, I cannot say. We have TT (Thatayaone Ditlhokwe) who’s just had the operation on his shoulder and he’s out recovering. We also have Aiden McCarthy, who also had a hernia operation, but he’s also recovering. I think Keegan (Dolly) is almost ready to play. Today, I tried Ashley (du Preez) a little bit just so that we could see whether he has it is. I haven’t spoken to him yet. But it looks like he’s come through. I think he played for 15 minutes. He’s come through that so hopefully, he’s OK for the next game. On the same day that Ox got injured, someone tramped on Zitha Kwinka’s toe. It’s not a major thing. But we took precaution. George Matlou had a knee knock two weeks ago and that hasn’t recovered yet.”
