Amakhosi Under The Microscope: Chiefs’ Season Report

As Amakhosi bring the curtain down on yet another disappointing season with no trophy, it's time to look through the playing squad. We take a look at which of the squad are excelling and which need to improve? Which players does the coach not seem to trust and which form his trusted core? Soccer Laduma investigates as every member of the Glamour Boys roster has their season assessed.

GOALKEEPERS

Itumeleng Khune

He played just one match in the whole of the 2021/22 sea­son. He was in the stands for all seven of Arthur Zwane's matches in caretaker charge. He must have feared the worst this term, so 13 appear­ances is a reasonable amount of involvement for the soon-to-be 36-year-old. His first seven outings were pretty solid, especially as he helped Chiefs' set-piece woes. Un­fortunately, he was in goal for the 4-0 AmaZulu FC thrashing with at least one goal being a goalkeeping howler. The coach dropped him two matches later after the Mam­elodi Sundowns defeat. His only other appearances came late sea­son, firstly when Brandon Petersen was suspended against Swallows FC and then after the latter's howler against SuperSport United. Rating: 5/10

Bruce Bvuma

The 28-year-old started the final four matches of the previ­ous campaign under Zwane. He began this season as first choice too, starting the opening three league matches. After the 4-0 loss to Sundowns, he was dropped despite none of the goals being his fault. He only started once in the next 34 matches in all competitions, a 2-2 draw against TS Galaxy when Petersen was injured and Khune wasn't fully fit. He wasn't particularly dominant in that outing, but any mistakes he makes continue to be judged overly harshly. Rating: 6/10

Brandon Petersen

The former Ajax Cape Town man was largely the first choice this past season. He played 21 matches compared to 13 for Khune and four for Bvuma. He kept 10 clean sheets in those appearances. At times, he made fine saves, but his command of his box was never really evi­dent. His season ended with a key goal conceded in the Nedbank Cup semi-final where he didn't dive, and a howler which led to a 1-0 loss to Matsatsantsa. Rating: 6/10

DEFENDERS

Reeve Frosler

The versatile full­back played the 10th-most minutes in the squad last season. He began the campaign at left back until Si­fiso Hlanti returned from injury and then reverted to his more natural role. He largely had a stronger season defensively than last season, but his attacking threat was significantly less. His only assist came in the late-season win against Chippa United. A fractured jaw ruled him out for nine matches and his return saw Zwane declare his "love" for the player. Rating: 6.5/10

Dillan Solomons

The former Swallows FC man was signed on the back of 12 matches in a new position of right back in 2021/22's run-in. At Amakhosi, he started seven of the first eight matches (seven at fullback, one as winger) and he had a mixed time. He failed to track his man for a goal against Cape Town City and he lost Gabadinho Mhango for a back post goal against AmaZulu FC. After the initial flurry of starts, he was in the starting line-up just twice in the next 11 fixtures as he played second fiddle to Frosler, until the latter's in­jury. Solomons ended off the season playing as a right winger and looked a long way below the Soweto giants' standard in that role. Rating: 6/10

Sifiso Hlanti

The veteran left back fought back from a serious Achilles injury that ruled him out for the opening five fix­tures. He started 30 of the next 32 matches, and only missed out two times due to suspension. His performances were largely very dependable and steady, but errors began to be ex­ploited towards the end of the sea­son. More speedy players tended to cause him problems and he was regularly drawn out of position as teams created goals from his flank. The Golden Arrows and Sundowns games come to mind around Janu­ary and February. The Glamour Boys faced 10 men a lot and Hlanti was often the one hooked off as he no longer offers much going for­ward.  Rating: 6.5/10

Happy Mashiane

The left-sided player had a quiet season. He only appeared once in the first 15 league matches, but he started three times in the second half of the campaign, once at left back in the Usuthu drubbing and twice as a winger once Keagan Dolly was injured. His best action was a deep cross from which Ashley Du Preez scored against Maritzburg in the Nedbank Cup. Rating: 5/10

Zitha Kwinika

The R3 million sign­ings from Stellen­bosch FC played the fifth-most minutes in the squad. He was one of the first names of the team sheet up until mid-March, playing initially as a left centre-back, then as a right centre-back alongside Ed­milson Dove and later at right back on a couple of occasions. His form was mixed throughout. There were strong performances, such as in the first Soweto Derby in a central role and the second derby on the right. However, there were plenty of major mistakes too and he never quite seemed to have the aerial dominance to be the side's key de­fender. The coach dropping him for the final nine matches of the season felt overly harsh, though. Rating: 5.5/10

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 27: Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika during the Soweto Derby press conference at PSL Offices on October 27, 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)Gallo Images

Siyabonga Ngezana

The academy prod­uct started off the season in the XI for the first three matches. His two bad mistakes against Downs saw him hooked at half-time. Zwane re­called him in a back three away at Cape Town City, but that shape didn't work. After that, he was used in just two of the next 15 matches as the coach settled on a Kwinika-Edmilson Dove pairing. He was recalled in late January and started 15 of the final 16 matches in all competitions in a pretty strong turnaround from the booing he re­ceived from supporters early in the campaign. He had some starts at right back where he looked a bit awkward, but his outings centrally were often quite strong.  Rating: 7/10

Njabulo Ngcobo

It was a season to forget for the for­mer PSL Defender of the Season. He was easily beaten on a dribble by Abubeker Nassir for a Sundowns goal and he was caught on the ball for the goal against Stellies in the MTN8. He went 24 matches without starting after his early-season involvement until a shock return late in the campaign. He started three of the last four league matches, including a poor mistake against Swallows for the Gregory Damons goal. Rating: 4/10

Edmilson Dove

For much of the cam­paign, he was one of the first names selected as the only trusted left centre-back. He gave some excellent performances, like winning Man of the Match against Swallows and Stellenbosch shortly after he signed. He also took the award in February's win against Pir­ates. However, there've been quite a few howlers with loose passes that led to goals, scoring an own goal himself or being dispossessed by Ranga Chivaviro against Marumo Gallants to cost two points. Rating: 6/10

MIDFIELDERS

Njabulo Blom

The St. Louis City man had a slow start to the season. Zwane publicly criticised his performance against Royal AM at right back and he wasn't much better in that role for the first half in the 4-0 loss to Downs. After a few matches out of the picture, he re­turned as a number six holding mid­fielder. His presence immediately led to a big improvement in league form, whilst it gave more freedom for Yusuf Maart to get forward. His final game before his sale was a fine midfield display in the 1-0 win against Pirates. Rating: 8/10

Yusuf Maart

The R5 million sign­ing from Sekhukhune United was a core player this season. He started 34 of the 37 matches, with the other three seeing him suspended. The coach used him as a lone six, often in a double pivot, and also as one of two number eights. His best form came to the right of Blom, who freed Maart up to drib­ble and close down higher up the pitch. At one stage, the side went seven matches unbeaten with that duo. As the season went on, Maart had to be more disciplined along­side either Siyethemba Sithebe or Samkelo Zwane. On occasion, he did play ahead of those two in a more advanced role. Rating: 7.5/10

Cole Alexander

The former Super­Sport man started five of Zwane's seven matches last season. This time around, he's been little more than a fringe player since the early weeks. He started two of the first three league matches, but he struggled in the Sundowns thrash­ing. After that, he started just once more all season, a surprise outing against Sekhukhune in April where he had very little impact. Rating: 5/10

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo

Having enjoyed such a good season under Gavin Hunt, his cam­paign a year later was a waste under Stu­art Baxter. "10111" handed him three starts during his caretaker spell and was expected to bring out the best in the lad. This past season was a frustrating one for the playmaker. He missed the final 16 matches with an injury and started just six of the other 21 fixtures. Five of those six starts came right before his in­jury as he played particularly well in the first Soweto Derby win as a number 10. Amakhosi lost all three of Ngcobo's final three starts (with­out scoring) before his season ended prematurely. Rating: 6/10

George Matlou

Big things were expected of the mid­fielder after he was acquired from Swal­lows. His full sea­son yielded just five starts and 10 substi­tute run-outs. The final 22 matches from late October onwards saw him start on zero occasions with just 30 minutes of action from the bench. Injuries played their part but so did the breakthrough of Mduduzi Shabalala. When he got minutes, he showed flashes of class – such as against Maritzburg United in the Round 2 win and with his fine assist for Du Preez against TS Galaxy in Round 12. Rating: 5/10

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 03: Lehlogonolo George Matlou of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu FC at FNB Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)Gallo Images

Siyethemba Sithebe

It was a weird sea­son for the dread­locked man. Early on, he played quite an attacking role, but he struggled when he got around the box. After starting the first 10 matches of the season, often through knocks and fatigue (in the words of his coach), he was dropped for the next 10 fix­tures with zero starts. After a strong sub outing against Downs, he was in the starting XI for 15 of the next 17 matches, usually in a deeper role in the double pivot. His energy was useful and he did a great job track­ing Thembinkosi Lorch in the win against Bucs. He had 29 shots this season without scoring and for all his energy, he took far too many wild attempts from distance. Rating: 6.5/10

Samkelo Zwane

This was a break­out season for the 21-year-old. He made one sub outing before the World Cup, but Blom's sale opened up a clear pathway for him. He started the first four matches after the mid-season break, but he looked a bit raw with his de­cision-making. The youngster was hooked at half-time against the Bra­zilians and the coach openly said he had given a below-par display. Eight matches on the bench followed, but the finished the season in the XI as his coach often used three genuine midfielders. Towards the end of the campaign, we saw some of his shoot­ing and attacking prowess too. Rating: 6.5/10

Mduduzi Shabalala

The teenager scored on his debut against Maritzburg, but some injuries and a reluc­tance to use him saw no more appearances before the World Cup hiatus. After the break, he appeared in every single one of the 21 fixtures, with 14 of those coming from the start. He got one more goal and two assists, with his outing against Rich­ards Bay FC seeing him create sev­eral good chances. His shooting and finishing need lots and lots of work. He scored just twice from 53 shots and 5.60 Expected Goals, a serious underperformance. Rating: 7/10

FORWARDS WINGERS

Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana

Amakhosi had the Burundian on trial for several weeks in pre-season but only eventually signed him after the huge loss to Sundowns. He netted seven goals in his first seven starts, albeit four of those were penalties. The three open play goals were good poached finishes from left-flank crosses by Du Preez and Kgaogelo Sekgota and a fine turn and finish against Arrows. To be fair, two of his hattrick of penalties were won by his own good play too. Unfortu­nately, the final 20 matches of the season only yielded one goal, a pen­alty against Casric Stars. He only started twice in the final 12 matches as Zwane appeared to lose faith in him after some missed sitters and clumsy performances. Rating: 7/10

Kamohelo Mahlatsi

The diminutive sign­ing from Swallows played 218 minutes all season. He had five sub outings and two starts. He was selected as a left winger in the Arrows and Sekhukhune matches at the turn of the year. Unfortunately, he had ineffective performances and was barely seen again in the next five months. Rating: 4/10

Keagan Dolly

The former Mont­pellier playmaker was excellent in the first half of last season. This time around, injury meant his campaign finished with five matches to go. Overall, six goals and five assists were reasonable totals, but it doesn't tell the full picture. He was dropped after a slow start to the season and Hugo Broos was critical of his level. He responded by netting three goals in five matches in Octo­ber, but we never saw him at his very best. Zwane used him as left-sided eight, a left winger and as a number 10 but very rarely in his best role as an inverted right winger. Rating: 7/10

Khama Billiat

The Zimbabwean reached the midpoint of the 2021/22 season with five goals and six assists. We've sadly not seen anything close to his best form this cam­paign. He managed 12 appearances and 852 minutes without scoring a sin­gle goal. He did contribute two assists as well as winning the ball (perhaps by illegal means) for Maart's 55-yard wonder goal against Pirates. In the last 20 matches of the season, he missed 19 through injury. His final day intro­duction as a 44th minute substitute who was then substituted at half-time summed up his campaign. Rating: 3/10

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 09: Khama Billiat of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium on August 09, 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)Gallo Images

Kgaogelo Sekgota

Sekgota must have reached the World Cup break on a high. He had started 11 of the side's 16 matches and had ap­peared in three games for Bafana Bafana. Al­though he hadn't scored (and didn't register a goal all season), he had three assists and another (missed) pen­alty won. In general, he was proving a menace to opponents down the left flank. Yet, the Glamour Boys played 20 matches after the mid-season hia­tus and Sekgota didn't start a single one. He got just 320 minutes in those fixtures (16 minutes per match on average). It was a curious season and he must end it wondering if Zwane rates him at all and whether he has a future at the club. Rating: 6.5/10

Ashley Du Preez

Big things were expected of the R10 million signing. By the end of the season, he was showing his class as a striker and scoring goals more regularly. Early in the cam­paign, he was usually used as a winger and he did provide some assists, but there were also performances where his coach criticised him publicly. Nine goals and five assists was a reasonable return and he had some very effect­ive matches, not least as a striker in the second league win over the Buccaneers. All in all, few players in the squad had the same import­ance as Du Preez but he also didn't blow the lights out. Rating: 7.5/10

Christian Saile

The Congolese at­tacker arrived in January and immedi­ately got an assist on debut as a right winger. His first start came soon after as he netted a crucial goal in the cup win over Maritzburg. Not long after, it was his run which saw Innocent Maela red-carded for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. He netted two more goals before the season was out, but his last three outings were all poor once Zwane played him as a left winger. Rating: 7/10

No Rating The following players were not rated due to having barely featured in the team this past season…

Erick Mathoho

Sabelo Radebe

Phathutshedzo Nange

Austin Dube

Wandile Duba

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