Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches earn high praise for ‘right’ Soweto Derby approach

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Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches earn high praise for ‘right’ Soweto Derby approach
Brandon Petersen, Khalil Ben Youssef and Given Msimango, Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Kaizeer Chiefs

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Sergio Dos Santos has showered praise on co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze for getting their tactics spot on in the Soweto Derby.

Chiefs went toe-to-toe with Orlando Pirates in Sunday’s clash at a sold-out FNB Stadium, where they scored first through Pule Mmodi before Kamogelo Sebelebelee levelled for Buccaneers for 1-1 at fulltime.

It was a game where Chiefs made life difficult for Pirates with their dangermen like Relebohile Mookeng, Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis not afforded time and space on the ball as had been the case in the corresponding fixture that Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men won 3-0 in February.

How did Kaizer Chiefs nullify Pirates?

Dos Santos has lauded the Chiefs tacticians for finding a formula that nullified Pirates’ strengths in the big game at the weekend.

“We have to be realistic, if I was the coach of Kaizer Chiefs yesterday, I would have probably done something similar to what was done,” Dos Santos said on SoccerBeat.

“They played a conservative, retention game to prevent Orlando Pirates from getting into the areas that matter.

“Even though they still did that, when Pirates started to play in the second half, you saw how many times they [Chiefs] broke through and how many opportunities they created.

Amakhosi lauded for Soweto Derby tactics  

Siphesihle Ndlovu of Kaizer Chiefs vies for the ball with Orlando Pirates' Kamogelo Sebelebele and Patrick Maswangannyi in the Soweto Derby.
Siphesihle Ndlovu of Kaizer Chiefs vies for the ball with Orlando Pirates’ Kamogelo Sebelebele and Patrick Maswangannyi in the Soweto Derby. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“There was a great possibility. They followed the pattern that they had to follow. Kaizer Chiefs on the other hand, played with two holding midfield players,” he added.

Chiefs started with Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu in midfield but Pirates hogged possession in the first half and made goalkeeper Brandon Petersen busy.

However, after the break, Amakhosi withdrew Mthethwa and brought in Mduduzi Shabalala, adding pace and threat to their game and exploited the Pirates’ high defensive line a number of times, including for the goal when Wandile Duba broke free before setting up an unmarked Mmodi to sweep home.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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