Kaizer Chiefs News Today: Why Abrahams didn’t face Stellies, CKO opponents, seven defenders tactic, & more

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Kaizer Chiefs News Today: Why Abrahams didn’t face Stellies, CKO opponents, seven defenders tactic, & more

Latest Kaizer Chiefs news in the last 24 hours including why seven defenders started against Stellenbosch, Faiz Abrahams omission from squad, Carling Knockout opponents, and more.

Chiefs’ breaking news

Why did Chiefs start seven defenders vs Stellies?

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has explained the tactical reasoning behind Amakhosi’s starting line-up that featured seven defensive players during their 1-1 Betway Premiership draw against Stellenbosch FC at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night.

Sheppard defended the selection and challenged the label attached to certain players, specifically pointing out Frosler’s developmental background.

“Reeve, why would you say he is a defender? When he grew up at Wits, what position did he play? No, I am asking here. He grew up as a midfielder,” Sheppard explained.

Sheppard went on to explain that squad management and recent injury setbacks forced the technical team’s selection, particularly following the three-week FIFA international break.

“The reason for the line-up, obviously, [was] due to the injuries we had. Young Thulani Mabaso has just come back from a long-term injury. To throw him into a game right after we returned from a FIFA break would be unfair to him,” Sheppard stated.

“We had to find alternatives. In the pre-season, we worked with Reeve in the midfield, and he had played in that position before. During the three-week break, we prepared with him, and he did really well. So, that was the reason behind that.

“With Paseka Mako coming back from an injury, it was his first start of the season. To give him the back four role, we were thinking about long balls with a lot of pace that everyone wants to play.

Dillon Sheppard at Kaizer Chiefs.
Dillon Sheppard at Kaizer Chiefs.

“We also wanted to look after Bradley Grobler. We anticipated that Bradley would start the game with Sinoxolo Kwayiba, considering the aerial qualities that they have. So, we wanted to control those aerials and use the wing-backs to get behind them.

“The system is just there, but in a game, it is all about changing players, roles, and responsibilities, and occupying positions at different times.

“So, we can say it is defensive, but it is also attacking when your wing-backs move high in a 3-2-5, which becomes a very attacking system,” Sheppard concluded.

A clause that prevented Abrahams from starting vs Stellies

A clause in Faiz Abrahams’ loan agreement forced Kaizer Chiefs to withdraw the attacker from their starting line-up against Stellenbosch FC just before kick-off on Tuesday evening.

Abrahams’ late change raised questions, particularly after Amakhosi assistant coach Dillon Sheppard revealed that the technical team had prepared for the fixture with Abrahams in their plans.

The explanation lies in the agreement that brought the attacker to Naturena. Abrahams is prohibited from playing against Stellenbosch during his loan spell.

The clause was subsequently brought to the technical team’s attention, prompting his withdrawal. The situation is understood to have stemmed from a communication lapse over the conditions of his loan.

Faiz Abrahams signs his contract at Kaizer Chiefs.
Faiz Abrahams signs his contract at Kaizer Chiefs. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Dillon Sheppard offered little detail about the circumstances behind the change but confirmed that Abrahams had been part of the team’s preparations.

“I don’t want to comment too much about it because I didn’t know too much leading up to it, because we had prepared the game with him,” he stated.

Confused players?

A former PSL coach has shared his view on what has prevented Kaizer Chiefs from reaching the same level as rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, who continue to wrestle for trophies.

Tony De Nobrega, who coached Bloemfontein Celtic and Vasco Da Gama, believes the problem does not lie in the quality of the players the club recruits, as some would like to believe.

“I do not think they can get going amid all the inconsistency in the team,” notes De Nobrega, in conversation with KickOff.

“They are performing in patches. For 20 minutes, they look very good, but then their performance drops. They are not consistent at the moment. There is no rhythm in what they are trying to do. They need to regain consistency and secure two or three results, and then they will be back in contention.

Siphesihle Ndlovu, Bradley Cross and Rushwin Dortley
Siphesihle Ndlovu, Bradley Cross and Rushwin Dortley, Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“When a new coach takes over a whole group of new players, it will always take time to integrate them with the existing squad. They need to adapt to the coach’s preferred style of play, and that will not happen overnight.

“Every year, there are too many changes at Chiefs. There is no consistency in the technical staff, so the players are confused because each season they have to adapt to a new coach and a new style of play. There is no consistency,” he concluded.

Chiefs learn CKO opponent

Kruger 𝘃𝘀 AmaZulu
Sundowns 𝘃𝘀 Gallants
Arrows 𝘃𝘀 Chippa
Durban City 𝘃𝘀 Stellenbosch
Pirates 𝘃𝘀 Milford
Polokwane 𝘃𝘀 Siwelele
Sekhukhune 𝘃𝘀 Richards Bay
Chiefs 𝘃𝘀 Galaxy

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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