The assistant effect: Did Kaizer Chiefs perform better without Nabi?

Kaizer Chiefs started life without coach Nasreddine Nabi with defeat when they lost 1-0 to Angolan side Kabuscorp in the first preliminary round match of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Nabi left Chiefs last week after opting to take a break to focus on the health of his wife who was involved in an accident last month and his assistants Khalil Ben Youssef Cedric Kaze were the men tasked with leading the team in his absence.

It was not a great audition for the duo who might be hoping to get the job permanently as they struggled against the Angola Cup winners, who now have something to protect, in the second leg set to be played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday September 27.

That was the fourth match in which Ben Youssef and Kaze have taken charge of this season as they led the team in the first three games of the season when their boss had been on compassionate leave.

So, has Khalil Ben Youssef Cedric Kaze done enough to deserve the chance to continue leading Chiefs?

Stellenbosch 0-2 Kaizer Chiefs – August 10

Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze were first in the dugout when Chiefs opened the season and they started like a house on fire as they secured a 2-0 victory against Stellenbosch FC, who finished third last season.

On matchday one, the coaching duo went with a 4-4-2 formation with Brandon Petersen in goal while youngster Aden McCarthy partnered captain Inacio Miguel in central defence with new signing Thabiso Monyane at right-back, Bradley Cross at left-back while in midfield, Thabo Cele played alongside Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.

Glody Lilepo and Wandile Duba were deployed on the wings as Naledi Hlongwane and Mduduzi Shabalala played upfront.

Chiefs were helped by the fact that Stellies had a man sent off after 13 minutes and they took full advantage, Ngcobo scoring after 15 minutes, but it was until the 96^th minute that Lilepo sealed the points from the spot.

However, Stellenbosch had several chances that they missed, Steve Barker’s men hitting the post a number of times and even though Chiefs had 61% possession, the 10 men of Stellenbosch still managed 13 shots, three on target to Amakhosi’s 15, five on target.

On the balance of play, it should have been at least 2-2 but Chiefs were saved by their opponents’ inefficiency in front of goal.

Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Polokwane City – August 13

Ben Youssef and Kaze’s second game was against Polokwane City when they won 1-0 but it was a much-improved display from the Glamour Boys, who were also helped by the fact that Rise and Shine did not throw a punch.

In this match, two changes were made to the starting XI that beat Stellies, with Gaston Sirino and Sibongiseni Mthethwa coming in for Ngcobo and Hlongwane as they reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Mthethwa played in central midfield alongside Cele, Sirino on the left wing, Shabalala in the No.10 role while Duba was the main striker, but as Chiefs bossed possession, having 68% in the end, they struggled to break down Rise and Shine.

In fact, Polokwane had more shots, 13, to Chiefs’ 11, while both had the same number of shots on target (three) and it was until substitute Siphesihle Ndlovu found a tight space at the back post to break the deadlock in the 79^th minute.

In this match, Chiefs defended better but struggled to create chances although the quality of their bench made the difference.

Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Richards Bay – August 19

Ben Youssef and Kaze’s third game was when Chiefs hosted Richards Bay and here, their tactical acumen was tested to the limit as they went with a largely defensive line-up before retreating in the second half.

While the back five remained unchanged from the first two matches, they made changes in midfield where Mthethwa, Cele and Ndlovu started, the latter rewarded with a start after his goal against Polokwane, but this experiment failed.

The three, all defensive-minded, stifled creativity from Chiefs, who did not have much of an attacking threat, with Shabalala, Duba and Lilepo not getting much service in the first half.

Ben Youssef and Kaze realised their mistake and at halftime, Ngcobo and Sirino came on for Mthethwa and Ndlovu while Chiefs had also lost McCarthy to injury after 35 minutes to be replaced by Zitha Kwinika.

This gave Chiefs an attacking threat as they kept asking the questions and the answer arrived after 57 minutes when Sirino scored a beauty.
Chiefs dominated the game but could not get more goals with a 70% possession, 16 shots to Richards Bay’s two, while they had six on target as the Natal Rich Boys managed just one.

Kabuscorp 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs – September 20

While the first three matches were played with Nabi away on leave, the first game after the coach had left permanently was against Angolan Cup winners Kabuscorp last weekend and Chiefs were found wanting.

A defensive mistake was punished by the home side who made it tough to break them down.

Chiefs had made changes in defence with McCarty and Miguel at centre-back as Paeka Mako and Kwinika played at full-back and this could have affected their balance as it was from the youngster’s mistake that they conceded.

The midfield of Cele, Mthethwa and Shabalala did not create much for the front three that had Pule Mmodi, Lilepo and Flavio Silva.