South Africa: Chiefs Coach Ntseki On Thin Ice Already

31 July 2023
Scrolla (Johannesburg)
By Michael Madyira

Kaizer Chiefs have given a strong hint at their woes persisting as they enter the 2023/24 season staggering, following an uninspiring pre-season.

The Soweto giants lost 1-0 to less-fancied Township Rollers from Botswana in Saturday's friendly match following another 1-0 defeat by Tanzanian giants Young Africans seven days earlier.

The two results marked a difficult pre-season for Amakhosi under new coach Molefi Ntseki, who is shouldering heavy expectations of ending their eight-year trophy drought.

Ntseki is already walking on thin ice before the season starts and is worried about his side failing to score in the two games.

They were games in which they showed no improvement in the attacking frailties that have haunted them in recent seasons.

"It is a big concern because when we create chances, we have to bury those chances," said

Ntseki.

"If we don't create chances, it means there's a problem in terms of our creativity in the last third."

While Chiefs are facing the same problems from the past, their traditional rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns posted encouraging results against more established friendly match opponents in their respective pre-season games.

In their tour of Spain, Pirates edged Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 and beat Ecuadorian outfit Independiente Valle 3-1 before drawing 0-0 with La Liga returnees Las Palmas.

Sundowns expressed their intent to continue domestic dominance after they drew 2-2 with Belgian top-flight league side Gent and dismissed Eredivisie outfit Go Ahead Eagles 1-0.

The Brazilians also walloped former Eredivisie champions Sparta Rotterdam 4-1 before capping their Netherlands camp with a 2-1 victory over NAC Breda.

However, Ntseki is drawing positives from new signing Edson Castillo, who impressed him in the friendlies.

"I think he is a revelation in terms of our tactical play, intelligence in possession and how he helps the team out of possession," said Ntseki of the Venezuelan midfielder.

"He will give us more balance in the midfield going forward."

Chiefs will now try to pick themselves up from the discouraging pre-season when they host Chippa United in their opening Premier Soccer League match next Sunday.

Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo in action against Township Rollers

Image source: Kaizer Chiefs

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