Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi ended 2024 with a victory to celebrate, but his first 10 matches have been a roller coaster ride, as Soccer Laduma looks at the positives and negatives thus far.
The Soweto giants moved into the top eight with a 1-0 victory over Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium, registering their first clean sheet of the campaign.
READ: Nabi: Chiefs Played With Fear
THE POSITIVES
- Nabi has given young players an opportunity to prove themselves in the team and their best performing youth product has no doubt been Mduduzi Shabalala, who is enjoying his best season in front of goal since getting promoted. He is the club's top scorer in the Betway Premiership with four goals and he's provided two assists. The four goals he has scored this season are as many as he netted in the two of the previous campaigns before this season. He scored two goals last term and two in 2022/23. Wandile Duba has also shown promising signs, with two goals this season, which is one more than he managed last term.
- Sibongiseni Mthethwa has fought his way back into the team after struggling to get any game time in the first two months of the season. He got his first chance of the season against Richards Bay in November and has now played a total of five matches. During this period, Amakhosi have lost only one match, winning two and drawing two.
- After 10 matches this season, Amakhosi have scored 14 goals. After Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, who have both scored 22 goals, Chiefs are the third highest scorers in the top eight. After 10 matches last season, they had scored 11 goals. At this point last season, they were on 11 points. This season, they are on 15 points.
READ: Young Strikers' Struggles In Last 10 Years At Chiefs
THE NEGATIVES
- Amakhosi celebrated their first clean sheet of the season on Sunday, but they have been poor defensively. They have the worst defensive record in the top eight with 13 goals conceded. At this point last season, they had conceded eight goals. Despite going into the market to sign the likes of Miguel Inacio, Rushwin Dortley and Bradley Cross, the numbers have not improved.
- The goalkeeping department is still a problem at Naturena. In the first 10 matches, Amakhosi have played all three goalkeepers. Pre-season signing Fiacre Ntwari started the season as number one but sustained an injury while on international duty. Brandon Petersen could not cement his place as number one when he was given an opportunity and Bruce Bvuma has been in goal in the last two matches. Had Ntwari done well enough before getting injured, he probably would have walked back into the starting line-up, but there were concerns over his performances in goal early on in the campaign.
- The new signings have not made a big difference since putting pen to paper for the club. Miguel and Dortley are still trying to keep more clean sheets, while Cross has been on and off at left back. Ntwari was unable to stake a claim as number one, while Gaston Sirino is understood to have had some off the field problems, as previously reported by the Siya crew. Njabulo Blom has not quite been the same player who did well before leaving for the US a few year ago. Bongani Sam, meanwhile, is yet to make an appearance.
- In the six away matches they have played, Amakhosi have only won twice. In total, Amakhosi have dropped 10 points away from home, which should be a concern for Nabi.
