Opinion: Sorry Caleb, we expected better.

Eight goals in 21 games is not at all a bad return for a striker in the DStv Premiership. 

In fact, Caleb Bimenyimana should be looking forward to banging in more goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2023/24 season. 

Unfortunately, it seems like Bimenyimana is on his way out of Amakhosi, not that I am surprised, Caleb is just not by any means Chiefs material. 

His case is made worse by the fact that half, if not more than half of the eight goals he scored for Amakhosi were penalties. 

Obviously, Chiefs were looking for much more than a penalty specialist when they signed Caleb, they were looking for someone who could score goals in open play, something he didn't seem to be good enough in. 

If Caleb was actually good with the ball at his feet, if he could interact well with his teammates in possession and create goal scoring opportunities if he could not score himself, it would have been easier to plead his case. 

But Caleb can't even play, too awkward he looks with the ball at his feet eKasi we would call him inkomo. 

He makes you wonder how the hell did he make it to Naturena in the first place. 

The fact that there are teams actually interested in him, Wydad for that matter, is amazing, his ancestors are definitely rooting for him. 

The only thing I for one will miss about Caleb is his "Black Panther" celebration after converting yet another penalty. Nothing else. 

Oh! and maybe the way his face lit up when Amakhosi were awarded a penalty. 

We never put them there to fail - Bobby Motaung on Zwane and Sheppard.

Kaizer Chiefs football manager, Bobby Motaung, has hinted on a possible technical team addition for next season.

Chiefs, who are currently fourth on the Dstv Premiership, have had another disappointing, trophy less season.

Finishing outside of the top three will also mean missing out on continental football.

Amakhosi struggled with inconsistency, poor finishing, and glaring defensive errors this season, some of the factors that led to their desperate state.

Head coach, Arthur Zwane, and his assistant, Dillon Sheppard, have shouldered most of the criticism directed at the club's performances, with some sections of Chiefs fans believing they are out of their depth.

The feeling has been that they need an extra hand from an experienced coach to help them on the bench.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Bobby Motaung said their season review will guide their decision on how they can support the technical team, with additions made where necessary.

"Obviously, we're doing a review in terms of support, we need to support them. We never put them there to fail, we put them there to develop and help them grow," Motaung told SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/kaizer-chiefs-to-assess-gaps-in-technical-team-led-by-coach-arthur-zwane-bobby-motaung

"I think, when we do our review at the end of the season, we'll see where we need to beef up and where we need to support, and as I said, we're also learning from the challenges of this season.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/we-cant-lose-to-supersport-no-matter.html?m=1

"We are definitely going to make sure that we assist and add more value to the [technical] staff and the players."

Why South Africa is no longer relevant in world football - Rob Moore.

Super football agent, Rob Moore, who represents Njabulo Blom amongst other plays, says South Africa is no longer producing gee whiz (highly skilled) footballers anymore.

"Where are those 'Gee Whiz' players, they aren't around anymore, they haven't recruited them," Moore told This Is Football Africa's Peter Du Toit. https://youtu.be/S6L67C51Sws

"If I look particularly close at Chiefs in the first six months of the season, because obviously I was following them with Njabulo Blom playing there, I looked at their recruitment and what they had brought in, there wasn't one gee whiz out of those guys that had come in.

"I just think that's been lost a little bit. But looking at a bigger picture, how many of South African players are gee whiz nowadays?

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/mokwena-reveals-privilege-enjoyed-by.html?m=1

Moore says South Africa's failure to produce top players, and not qualifying for international tournaments like the world cup, has rendered the country irrelevant in the eyes of Europe.

"We have fallen a little bit off an edge, off a cliff in the eyes of Europe. We are not a factor in Europe anymore, and that's because we don't qualify for the world cup, we have rarely qualified for AFCON, though we have done now," he said.

"And if you are not relevant at these international tournaments, you are not relevant in world football anymore, it is as simple as that.

"That's a pity because Pirates and Chiefs are not able to recruit gee whiz, because there are not many gee whiz out there anymore."

Khanye impressed by Zwane.

                                                                      Image: Twitter

It takes special talent to impress former Kaizer Chiefs winger, Junior Khanye, who is now a football analyst at iDiski TV, and Samkelo Zwane is something special.

Speaking after Amakhosi’s 2-1 win over Stellenbosch last weekend, Khanye could not stop raving about Zwane’s man of the match performance, going as far as comparing the 21-year-old to Andile Jali.

Zwane has appeared eight times for Chiefs this season, playing the full 90 minutes against Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch FC. He looks like a player who can give the team a different dimension in midfield, a different dynamic from what Yusuf Maart and Siyethemba Sithebe can offer.

“Between him and [Junior] Mendieta, Zwane is my Man of the Match because today Zwane was playing more as a box-to-box player,” said Khanye as quoted by iDiski Times. Khanye Compares Chiefs Starlet To Jali - iDiski Times

“You can’t make him a defensive midfielder because he knows how to combine better than when [Yusuf] Maart and [Siyethemba] Sithebe are in that position. He knows how to make the team gel.

“He kind of reminds me of Andile Jali, although Jali is obviously better and more experienced.

“I think Kaizer Chiefs have to understand that Zwane is not a defensive midfielder. He is not strong in defence but can help the team going forward.

“Sithebe can’t get out of sticky situations and he can’t even call for the ball. But the boy can call for the ball and he is more skilful. He knows how to hit a forward pass. His energy reminds me of Jali when he arrived at [Orlando] Pirates. Well he will never be in that class but he’s got potential to become one of the best.

“He can play forward and when the ball is on the right maybe on [Dillon] Solomon’s feet, he knows how to create a triangle and open in the middle. He had two options to either play on the line or play from where it came from.

“He is also able to protect the ball so he is a very good ball player and he is able to screen before he receives it. He knows football and today he gave Kaizer Chiefs balance so they could play, and I think the understanding he has with Mdu [Shabalala] is wonderful.” 

 

 

Apparently, Chiefs have beaten Pirates in the race for Msimango.

Given Msimango. Image: Twitter

If latest reports are anything to go by, Kaizer Chiefs will have a new center-half pairing next season.

This comes after goal.com revealed that Amakhosi have signed TS Galaxy's rock solid defender, given Msimango. https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/why-kaizer-chiefs-signed-orlando-pirates-target-msimango-and-what-to-expect-at-soweto-giants/blte3d4530e11490bf8

The 25-year-old has played a major role in helping Galaxy concede just 12 league goals so far this season, and should be one of the front runners for the defender of the season award.

With Chiefs having struggled to keep clean sheets this campaign, largely through some erratic defending, Msimango's addition will come as a welcome relief to coach Arthur Zwane.

His arrival, on top of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, another top defender signed from SuperSport United, will see a few defenders leaving Naturena.

The most glaring names being Eric Mathoho, Austin Dube, and Njabulo Ngcobo, who are clearly not in coach Arthur Zwane's plans.

An earlier report from Soccer Laduma, had suggested that Msimango was well on his way to Orlando Pirates, according to their source.

"Orlando Pirates appear to be front runners for Given Msimango's signature as things stand. The club is likely to meet with the player's representatives in the coming days to discuss a possible move," the source said as quoted by Soccer Laduma. https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/local/premiership/orlando-pirates/orlando-pirates-lead-kaizer-chiefs-in-race-for-given-msimango-20230322

It will be interesting to see where exactly Msimango will end up. But one thing is for sure, Chiefs needs him more than Pirates.