This behaviour anti-Kaizer Chiefs - Maphosa.

    mage: Lorenz Kohler Facebook. 

Kaizer Chiefs communications manager, Vina Maphosa has condemned the violent behavior from a section of Amakhosi fans after their 1-0 loss to SuperSport on Saturday afternoon.

Maphosa said the attack on coach Arthur Zwane stands against what Chiefs stands for as a club, which is love and peace, therefore, it was anti-Kaizer Chiefs.

Zwane needed some medical attention after he was injured during the violent acts that ensued after the game.

"This behaviour anti-Kaizer Chiefs. We are all about love and peace at Kaizer Chiefs," said Maphosa on Radio 2000, as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/chiefs-give-zwane-update/

"Our supporters obviously know that very well. Hence we don’t assume that the perpetrators are Chiefs supporters.

"We want to condemn the act of violence at the stadium and we’d like to also pass a strong message to our supporters or whoever used the opportunity to exhibit elements of violence at the stadium as you have seen at our home matches."

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Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Steve Komphela, suffered almost the same fate in 2018 while coaching Chiefs, which led to his resignation.

Whether Arthur Zwane will ride the wave and stay at Chiefs remains to be seem.

Amakhosi will next face Cape Town City at FNB Stadium on Saturday 20 May. The match will kick-off at 15:00.

Arthur Zwane, the proverbial sacrificial lamb.

The ugly scenes at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon after Kaizer Chiefs were beaten 1-0 by SuperSport United were uncalled for, but they have been bubbling under for sometime.

The game of football, from a fan's point of view, is more a game of emotions than logic, unfortunately for Zwane, the emotional pain of some Chiefs fans was directed at him, wrongfully so, instead of the people who should be feeling the wrath of the supporters.

Zwane, as much as he is no Jesus, is being crucified for the sins of others, Chiefs management that is.

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The fact is, Kaizer Chiefs will not win games/trophies, just because they are the once feared giants, they can't keep riding on the past success carried by their name.

Success demands the right systems and processes to be put in place in order for it to find fertile ground to grow on.

Unfortunately, at Chiefs, that fertile ground is non-existent.

One only has to look at a team like Mamelodi Sundowns as a template, look at their technical team, including analysts and specialist coaches like the highly qualified and experienced Michael Loftman who deals with set-pieces.

And look at the investment they have made to ensure they have a quality squad.

Now take a look at Chiefs and tell me what you see.

The reality is Chiefs deserve to be fourth or lower on the log, because the quality of their team as a whole dictates that, not coach Arthur Zwane.

When Chiefs lose to SuperSport, they are losing to their peers when it comes to squad quality, period.

Zwane, unfortunately, is on the frontline, and on Saturday afternoon, he took the bullets for a team that is still crawling while the football world is running, leaving it behind marveling at the past glory carried by its name. 

Playing Swallows before the derby worries Zwane.

Kaizer Chiefs will host Swallows FC on Monday 01 April at Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, at 15:00.

But it is the Nedbank Cup semi-final derby clash against Orlando Pirates on 6 May that worries coach Arthur Zwane.

While the Swallows game is important for Chiefs in terms of their ambition to finish second on the log, the upcoming derby clash might affect them negatively, splitting their focus.

Zwane believes it is key for himself and his technical team to manage the mental side of their players going into the Swallows game.

“It's key that, as the technical team, we manage the players and, fortunately, some of us played in these games and we know how important it is for us to keep collecting points before the derby,” Zwane said after his side beat Chippa United 1-0 as quoted by Times Live. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-28-it-gets-to-our-players-ears-worry-for-chiefs-coach-zwane-before-soweto-derbies-against-swallows-and-pirates/

“Sometimes the derby [against Pirates] can make you forget what's important. What's key is to take one game at a time and focus on this one.

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“As soon as we've played the game on Monday, we'll start focusing on the Pirates one. It's a bit difficult because people are already talking about the derby, especially after a great performance like this. People are already thinking Pirates, not Swallows.

“It gets to our players' ears and they start thinking about the derby. We have to manage it and we've [when he was a player] been in that situation and I think we have that advantage of helping these players manage the entire squad.”

Why Chiefs will be better title challengers than Pirates next season.

Image credit: iDiski TV

Kaizer Chiefs, with small adjustments, can challenge for the league title ahead of Orlando Pirates next season, according to statistics.

Arthur Zwane has been a subject of much criticism this season, with sections of Amakhosi fans calling for his sacking.

Lack of consistency has been Chiefs' downfall, with the boys from Naturena hardly going on a decent winning streak.

But if their statistics are anything to go by, Chiefs can look forward to a productive 2023/24 season.

What has let Zwane's men the most in this campaign, is their chaotic defending.

According to FootyStats.Org, https://footystats.org/clubs/kaizer-chiefs-fc-1278, Amakhosi average 1.13 goals conceded per match, which has led to them conceding 27 goals in the league this season.

Compared to Orlando Pirates, who average 0.74 goals conceded per match, if Chiefs were able to defend better, they would have won a few more matches in the league, leading to a better log position.

The fact that they are equal on points with Pirates, despite having what can be called a bad season for them, tells a story of the great potential Zwane's team possesses, only if they can shut the back door.

The signing of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, and the imminent addition of Given Msimango, will strengthen Amakhosi's last line, meaning less goals conceded, half a problem solved!

The next area of concern for Zwane should be the number six role.

Amakhosi are in a desperate need of someone who can take charge of their engine room, while providing adequate cover for their defence.

With Andile Jali and Sibongiseni Mthethwa's names still part of conversations at Amakhosi, signing one of these two can be a major coup.

It is in offensive play that Amakhosi's stats bring much hope, showing the team is not as bad as it has been made out to be.

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Chiefs average 1.17 goals scored per match, compared to Amabhakaniya's 1.13.

When it comes to creating good goalscoring opportunities, Amakhosi are again slightly ahead of Pirates, with an xGA (expected goals for) of 1.68 per match, to Bucs' 1.57.

In the shots taken per match column, Amakhosi again edge their Soweto rivals, with 11.78 shots, while Pirates stand at 11.35. Both teams have a shot conversion of 10%.

What these statistics prove is that there is not much separating the two Soweto giants, except that Amabhakaniya have an MTN8 trophy in their cabinet.

With small adjustments in their defence, which they are currently undertaking, and a new addition in their number six role, Amakhosi can find themselves ahead of Orlando Pirates in title challenge of next season. 

Tshabalala's sober thoughts on Chiefs should put a rare smile on Zwane's face.

Image credit: Simphiwe Tshabalala Twitter.

Perhaps, what Tshabalala failed to mention on his comments, is how Zwane cannot be expected to build a King's Castle with mud bricks. But that is a story for another day.

Former Amakhosi star, Simphiwe Tshabalala's comments on Kaizer Chiefs, and head coach Arthur Zwane come from a sober mind.

They are not intoxicated by emotions and unreasonable expectations that Zwane has had to deal with from sections of the media, Amakhosi fans, and football pundits alike.

Chiefs have been inconsistent with their performances this season, which is to be expected from a team that is on a process of renewal.

And that is something Tshabalala has acknowledged in his backing of Zwane, a fact that some of the Amakhosi legends have ignored in their criticism of 10111.

"I am very sad with the way things are but equally understanding as well, that transition is difficult, whenever there’s change, there will always be challenges, you have got a new coach that has been given an opportunity," Tshabalala told the media as quoted by goal.com. https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/tshabalala-jumps-to-zwane-defence-kaizer-chiefs-not-horrible-not-the-worst-season/blt430e888ab3e245f0

"It is his first season and there’s a lot of expectations, there are new players that came in as well so they haven’t been consistent in that regard. I think it’s the first time this season they have won four consecutive games, which is good."

Tshabalala believes Amakhosi are not as horrible as people make them out to be.

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"The majority say they are having a horrible season, but when you look at the log, they are in the top-four, same games, same points with [Orlando] Pirates, but the more focus is on Chiefs.

"I think it’s because they know what the team can bring, they know the calibre the team has as well, hence the pressure and expectations – they still have a chance [to win something] they are in the quarter-finals, it’s not over."

It is indeed not over for Amakhosi, although their inconsistency makes it hard to believe they can go all the way and lift the Nedbank Cup, it is possible.