For their trip just over a fortnight ago to Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London, Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson made seven changes to his starting line-up. In isolation, that sort of heavy rotation is not a problem. After all, Mamelodi Sundowns changed their entire team not long ago and still beat Richards Bay FC. We saw many of the teams in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals rotate heavily between the first and second legs and still win their league fixtures. The difference is that those clubs have a clear idea of their 'best XI' or at least a regular 13 or 14 players who fight to start. In addition, Johnson may have made seven personnel changes but there were eight changes if we include positional alterations. Against Richards Bay last weekend, it was a further five changes to the starting XI. Both Rhulani Mokwena and Jose Riveiro have spoken recently about the importance of continuity in their starting XI wherever possible. For Chiefs, they're only in one competition and should be closer to a clear "Best XI" by now. In this feature, Soccer Laduma asks what Amakhosi's team selection criteria is and whether they should already be building for next season, and how many of their players would get into the Sundowns team.
Johnson rejigs in Chippa loss
After Kaizer Chiefs' 1-0 home loss to Stellenbosch FC, Cavin Johnson was very displeased about the performance of his side. He said at full-time: "We have to go back, try again, put different players on the pitch and let's see what happens. We just didn't get it right tonight, I'm not happy with the performance of a lot of the players." In response, the caretaker coach made seven changes for the trip to the Chilli Boys a few days later. The four survivors were Bruce Bvuma, Given Msimango, Edmilson Dove and Pule Mmodi. That meant a lot of disruption to every department of the team except goalkeeper.
If we also factor in the fact that Edmilson Dove change position from centreback to left back, it means eight changes from the loss to the Winelands club. After losing 2-0 in East London, there were five changes for the defeat at Richards Bay FC as Ashley Du Preez and Sifiso Hlanti were amongst those recalled. In just 15 matches at the helm for Johnson, 29 different players have appeared for Amakhosi. He seems to be constantly trying to shuffle his cards in the hope that he suddenly finds a winning hand. It's not the sort of consistent selection criteria that leads to success. It also doesn't give players enough opportunities to prove whether they deserve to be part of the squad next season or whether the Soweto giants need upgrades in key areas.
What has happened to Frosler?
In August last year, Reeve Frosler was the subject of a bid from Romanian giants FCSB (formerly known as Steaua Bucharest), but both the player and Kaizer Chiefs turned down the deal. He was expected to be a key man at the Naturena-based club, yet he currently can't get regular game-time. He has played 60% of the available league minutes this term, but right now, he has started just once in the last eight matches.
For a Chiefs team that can't score goals, it is surprising to see one of your best crossers of the ball left out so often. Frosler has also been quite tidy in defensive terms this season, something that was previously an issue for him. Surely, Johnson should be using the right back week-in and week-out as any new coach will probably consider Frosler their first choice? It's a weird fall from favour for someone who was almost an undisputed starter before. Not only does it not help Chiefs to build chemistry for next season, it also potentially lowers Frosler's transfer value if European clubs come back in for him. Added to that, his last two appearances came at left back, highlighting what a problem position that has become for the Glamour Boys.
The 'Number 10' revolving door
Whilst the right back and left back positions see constant changes and we also see many different players used alongside Msimango at centre-back, it doesn't compare to the merry-go-round at 'Number 10'. That position is famed for needing someone with creativity and risk-taking ability and that only comes with confidence and being selected consistently. Yet, we have seen all of Mduduzi Shabalala, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Du Preez, Mduduzi Mdantsane and Keagan Dolly used as 'Number 10s' in just the last eight matches alone! This constant tinkering is down to some very unbalanced squad building, a lack of idea where to select players like Du Preez and Dolly and not knowing who your preferred option is!
When you're using a 4-2-3-1 shape, then play is meant to funnel through the playmaker between the lines. Changing that player almost every single match is not how to get a team performing consistently. Mdantsane came in from the cold to start the Soweto Derby, giving a reasonably strong performance. He was dropped for the Cape Town City and Stellenbosch matches, recalled against Chippa and then dropped again against Richards Bay. It begs the question why Amakhosi spent a fee over R3.5 million on him when they had all these in-house options to call upon already.
What the coach can learn from Mokwena and Riveiro
Just in the last couple of weeks, both Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena and Orlando Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro have discussed their selection criteria. Prior to the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal two weeks ago, Mokwena explained why his side have stopped scoring goals regularly (just five goals scored in the last seven fixtures): "The team needs more time on the pitch together. Ever since AFCON, you must just check the starting line-up of Sundowns – it's change here, change there, change here, change here. But now, it's the time of the season we have to develop a little bit more cohesive superiority, telepathy and you can see it sometimes when we play, sometimes you think it's a misplaced pass, but it's not a misplaced pass, it's just a lack of intuition and telepathy. I have been putting a lot of pressure on the players and on the team to play better, but of course that has to come with results and that you can only get when you're on the pitch together."
Basically, Mokwena sees rotation as a necessary evil but not something he really wants to do. Teams only build that non-verbal tactical communication and cohesion by consistently playing and training together. You don't get that with rotation or if you are suffering lots of injuries. Of course, travelling and a congested fixture list can force the coach's hand to avoid fatigue. Chiefs do not have that excuse.
Riveiro echoed those thoughts recently when talking after a big win over Golden Arrows. He said about Tshegofatso Mabasa's hot form: "Confidence and continuity is key in order to perform. Sometimes we are not really fair when we give one game in isolation for one player, it's not going to tell the truth about the player. First of all, playing regularly means the confidence is on you from everyone around."
The Spanish coach also spoke about the benefit of having nine of the same starting XI from the Moroka Swallows draw to the thrashing of Arrows. Chiefs could learn from these comments from two coaches who have been lifting silverware in the last two years. A prime example is Ranga Chivaviro. If we contrast the faith placed in him to that shown by Pirates in their strikers, we can understand why Bucs' forwards are shining a lot more. Zakhele Lepasa scored freely in the first part of the season with a long run of starts for really the first time in a Sea Robbers shirt. Then, Evidence Makgopa earned a place and was given 14 starts in a row to show what he can do. Now, we see Mabasa being trusted to start several matches on the bounce and Bucs are being rewarded for that. The old saying for strikers especially is that they "need a run in the team".
Now let's look at Chivaviro. The striker is 31 years old and was not signed for a long time, but rather for a good time. He arrived to help out immediately and was never going to be seen as a long-term solution. We have reached mid-April and the former Marumo Gallants forward is yet to play a single full match. He has just 10 starts to his name and just one run of starts – four successive selections in the starting XI at the beginning of Johnson's rein. He netted an equaliser from the bench against Sekhukhune United, but the nine subsequent matches have only seen one start. At this stage, we still don't have clarity on whether he can perform for a club like Chiefs or whether the club should allow him to depart in June.
The different selection criteria Johnson can employ
For any coach, they will have a selection methodology they employ. Mokwena ideally likes to have a best XI and formation and let them play together to develop chemistry. Riveiro, on the other hand, likes to make the odd change to his XI, but not too many, with some players given long runs in the team to show what they're made of. Some coaches look purely at training performances, some look at recent player form, there are others who like to change things up based on the opponents and there are many who feel you shouldn't change a winning XI. In Chiefs' position, where they're in poor form and languishing outside the Top Eight, during a trophy drought, it's all about changing those fortunes.
Is the best way to do that to play for short-term results? Maybe the best route to future success is playing a certain style – and we established three weeks ago that Chiefs don't really have a congruent style right now – and focusing on the processes in that style and not short-term results so much?
Perhaps Chiefs feel there's a malaise on the training ground and motivation is lacking at Naturena. In that scenario, Johnson may want to reward guys who train with intensity and full focus to show that is the way forward. Then, you have a number of players with contracts expiring who you need to get clear answers on. Does it make sense to hand out minutes to Sithebe or Hlanti if they are not going to be there next season? Do they deserve a chance to earn a new deal, or will the threat of free agency be the main motivator in any short-term form anyway?
It's a tricky balance for a caretaker coach to navigate. You have someone like Njabulo Ngcobo starting matches even though his agent spoke openly recently about having talks about his client with AmaZulu FC for next season. That can't be healthy! By this stage, you'd think that Kaizer Chiefs would have told Johnson whether Ngcobo, Hlanti and Sithebe are staying at the club for next season. Then, he should only use them if there is really no reliable alternative, something that could arguably apply in the case of Hlanti at left back, where the options are thin.
After a draw against Cape Town City, where Sithebe had his first minutes in ages, Johnson gave an insight into his team selection formula: "I always said this, I'll try and give everybody an opportunity to play while I'm here. And if they play and do well, it shows you why the club bought them initially. I don't know if Castillo or Maart will ever come back."
He is basically saying that if you play well, you get to keep the shirt. Sithebe was selected for the following match, as was (Sibongiseni) Mthethwa. That was a reward for their outing against City, but both struggled against Stellenbosch and were promptly dropped at Chippa United and then suddenly both recalled against Richards Bay. So, we can speak about faith and merit but maybe simply selecting the best midfield would have been more beneficial, regardless of how the deputies had performed.
How many Chiefs players would start for Sundowns?
Like it or not, Chiefs have to use Sundowns as the flagbearers for the DStv Premiership. Masandawana have set the bar very high and Amakhosi have to strive to meet it. One way to do that is to somehow sign or develop players that are as good or even better than what the Brazilians have to call upon. So, let's ask ourselves… how many Glamour Boys would Sundowns sign given the chance? In goal, you wouldn't expect Downs to want anyone from Chiefs. If anything, Bruce Bvuma could be a good number two at the Chloorkop-based club, but he wouldn't be anywhere close to unseating Ronwen Williams. In defence, Amakhosi's most consistently selected player is Msimango. If Downs had wanted him, they would have bought him a year ago from TS Galaxy. It's not like the deals for Thulani Hlatshwayo, Deon Hotto and even Abbubaker Mobara, who Sundowns wanted badly, but lost out on to Pirates. Msimango wasn't ever a real target for Sundowns, so why would they want him in our hypothetical situation?
In midfield, perhaps Edson Castillo is someone who Sundowns would be keen on. Certainly, for the CAF Champions League, his experience and aerial ability would be very handy. Would he start on a weekly basis though? Right now, he is not even a guaranteed starter for Chiefs with a number of recent matches on the bench. Further forward, for all of his pace and danger, Du Preez was not targeted by Sundowns when he left Stellies. Whilst he would probably do very well alongside Peter Shalulile, he is another who may only be a rotation option for the champions.
So, in summary, there probably isn't a single Chiefs player who would walk into the Sundowns starting XI. After all, when there isn't even a clear best XI at Amakhosi, how can you start for the best team in the country when you are in and out at a 10th-placed side?
Johnson's exit confirmed yet no heat on Kaizer Jr.
Kaizer Motaung Jr. was announced as Amakhosi's Sporting Director in a new position from 1 July 2021. He is headed towards three years at the helm. Just three weeks before he came into office in the new role, Stuart Baxter had been reappointed as coach. Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki and Johnson have all been in charge since Motaung Jr. began his new role.
You could argue that all four of these coaches (including Baxter) failed. Then, when we looked at Kaizer Chiefs' transfer hit rate in the recent past in a December feature, we deemed their success rate to stand at only 17%. Is the Sporting Director a bit fortunate not to be taking some heat? In Europe, they judge that position by the success of the coaching appointments and the players acquired. All of that leads us to this key point: Kaizer Chiefs absolutely have to get their next coach and off-season transfer business spot on!
Speaking at the Luke Fleurs memorial, Motaung Jr. admitted he was alarmed by the club's current form of two wins in 11 fixtures. He said: "There's a massive concern, we're a football club, and our job is to win matches, put smiles on people's faces, and achieve success. We're working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure we can elevate this football club."
Further comments clarified that Johnson would not be in charge as head coach next season. The Sporting Director said: "Cavin stepped in on an interim basis and we're committed to having a different technical structure next season. The plans have long been in motion — we'll have a different technical structure next season."
The Building Starts Now
With seven matches left to play, it's true that Chiefs need to secure a Top Eight finish. They're currently just two points above AmaZulu FC in 13th spot in the table and a few wins will be needed to qualify for the MTN8. There are some very tough fixtures ahead, including SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns in the next two rounds. Yes, many teams may be beating them with the opposition goalkeeper getting the Man of the Match award, but the performance levels are not much better than the results being achieved. A purely short-term view can't be taken over the next six weeks as there is no time to waste in trying to build a coherent squad for next season. This is the time to decide on a core for next term and to pick them in the starting XI every single week.
An answer is needed on some players who have yet to fully convince like Zitha Kwinika, Mthethwa, Happy Mashiane, Chivaviro and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe. And then a decision needs to be made on Itumeleng Khune, Njabulo Ngcobo, George Matlou, Hlanti, Sithebe, Sabelo Radebe and Tebogo Potsane. And that's not mentioning the big decision to make over Dolly and renewing his gargantuan pay packet. If those eight players are not going to be part of the plans after 30 June, which looks to be the case, maybe it is better to stop using them now or even to pay them off right away and start with a clean slate immediately. Doing that would give a chance to blood youngsters and to come to a verdict on those question mark players listed. For too long, Chiefs have had a big squad of players on a similar level with only a few guaranteed starters. They'll need a clearer best XI for next season to close the gap to the top of the table. Right now, you could ask 20 fans or analysts what the Amakhosi best XI is and you'd get 20 different answers. That is only okay when you have the schedule and the depth of Mamelodi Sundowns or Manchester City.
