Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson heaped praise on youngster Wandile Duba but explained the reason for removing him from the game in the second half.

Amakhosi returned to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after a stunning strike from Duba handed them a 1-0 win at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.

However, Duba was forced off the field in the 57th minute due to an injury and was subsequently replaced by Efmamjjasond González, who saw out the remainder of the match.

Johnson was full of praise for his side after they clinched their first win of the year but also reserved special praise for the young Duba following his display against Arrows.

“I thought it was a game of two halves, the first one we played well we came out of the blocks better than we’ve done in our last games but the second-half we gave them a bit of an opportunity,” Johnson told SuperSport TV after the game.

“They played a little better than us in some moments, especially in the dying moments but the team held together and I’m happy that we maintained a clean-sheet which is important for the team going into the next game.

“But I’m also happy for young Duba, who came in and second a beauty of a goal in the first-half and then of course I had to take him off the pitch because his ankle got hurt.

“So those are little things that you give a youngster a moment and he’s good, he gets hurt, you take him out and you feel sorry for him but overall I thought we could have played better in the second-half.

“I thought we could have held the ball better and I thought once we brought on (Nkosingiphile Ngcobo) we had to keep the ball well upfront,” he concluded.

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