Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki has hinted which new signings he will probably use the most in the upcoming season.
Chiefs played their first high-profile friendly last weekend in Tanzania and fielded a number of their new signings, including Edson Castillo, Pule Mmodi, Given Msimango, Mduduzi Mdantsane and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, all in the line-up against Yanga.
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The Glamour Boys went down narrowly 1-0 to the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup finalists and the Soweto giants were criticised by fans, particularly for not creating enough chances.
However, it is worth noting that while it was a friendly match, with multiple substitutions, Chiefs made 10 changes in total and only one player played the whole game.
And that player is Ditlhokwe.
After Amakhosi's disappointing 2022/23 season, where they shipped goals regularly, Ntseki showed his hand that he will build his team around 'TT', particularly from the back.
Most new coaches tend to focus on fixing their defence in the early stages of their reign, paying more attention to the organisational structure and schemes from the back.
Edmilson Dove as a left-back
Dove played mostly as a left-sided centre-back under Arthur Zwane and started as a left-back against Yanga, before eventually being replaced by Sifiso Hlanti.
Ditlhokwe/Msimango, Ditlhokwe/Njabulo Ngcobo central defensive pairing
Ntseki started with Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango as the centre-back pairing and in the second stanza brought on Njabulo Ngcobo to play alongside the Botswana national team captain.
Kwinika/Frosler
Zitha Kwinika started as a right full-back, not pushing forward much and in the second stanza was withdrawn in favour of Reeve Frosler (wing-back), who played higher up the pitch, joining the midfield, in a tactical variation that is seemingly new compared to Zwane's era.
Jwaneng Galaxy head coach Morena Ramoreboli, who was Ntseki's assistant back in 2008 at African Warriors in the National First Division, says the former Bafana Bafana coach is good when it comes to tactical variations.
"You know there are crazy things we used to do at African Warriors and sometimes when we see Pep Guardiola and coach Molefi were doing those things way back in 2007/8," Ramoreboli told SABC Sport.
"Pep Guardiola is doing the overloads with the centre-backs, doing the overloads with the full-backs," he said.
Township Rollers Lessons
Amakhosi lost their second successive pre-season friendly, this time it was 1-0 to Township Rollers.
However, notably from all the new signings, Ditlhokwe and Edson Castillo were the only ones to retain their places in the line-up.
Despite the defeat, Ntseki singled out one player from the match, Castillo and referred to him as a "revelation".
"I think he's (Castillo) a revelation in terms of our tactical play, in terms of his intelligence in possession and also how he's helping the team out of possession," Ntseki told SuperSport TV after the game.
"I think he'll be giving us more balance in the midfield going forward," he said.
Chiefs will open their DStv Premiership season on Sunday afternoon when they host Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
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