Kaizer Chiefs

Eric Mathoho (r) celebrates goal with teammate Kearyn Baccus of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Highlands Park at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 08 January 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Golden Arrows vs Kaizer Chiefs: Tactical preview

Kaizer Chiefs come into the game against Golden Arrows with the incentive that a victory will increase their lead to ten points atop the PSL table.

Kaizer Chiefs

Eric Mathoho (r) celebrates goal with teammate Kearyn Baccus of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 match between Kaizer Chiefs and Highlands Park at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 08 January 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Steve Komphela hosts his former club, Kaizer Chiefs, and looks to stop their march to the Premiership title knowing that set-pieces could be a crucial factor.

Kaizer Chiefs come into this game with the incentive that a victory will increase their lead to ten points atop the PSL table, whilst Golden Arrows could end the weekend anywhere between 6th and 11th spot depending on the result in this game and how teams around them perform.

Arrows Setup

So far this season, Komphela has largely used a 4-3-2-1 shape. Without genuine wingers, the width is provided by the very adventurous fullbacks, and to prevent leaving just two defenders back, one central midfielder drops into the backline when the team is building up. That man is usually Gladwin Shitolo, whose ball-playing ability is crucial to the side.

Further forward, it is usually two players in support of the vastly under-rated Knox Mutizwa. Those two players have changed regularly and Komphela will decide whether the guile of a Danny Venter is needed or the pace of Lerato Lamola working the channels.

With Kaizer Chiefs also not using genuine wingers, this could see a congested, narrow affair in midfield. Amakhosi could therefore simply bypass that area altogether and look to hit their two target men as early and as often as possible.

Set plays key against Kaizer Chiefs

Perhaps one of the most important areas in deciding this game will be set-pieces. Golden Arrows’ assistant coach, Mandla Ncikazi told the media as much on Thursday, saying:

“Credit to them for [Samir] Nurkovic, [Leonardo] Castro and [Erick] Mathoho in set-pieces. They are a real threat. I think 90% of their goals come from those situations – and we cannot take that away from them.”

Although 90% is an exaggeration, Chiefs are indeed dead-ball specialists. Aside from the three giants mentioned, Daniel Cardoso, Willard Katsande and even new signing, Anthony Akumu bring incredible height at attacking the deliveries of George Maluleka and Lebohang Manyama.

Eight of Chiefs’ last 13 goals scored in league action have come from set-plays, including netting four in one game against Stellenbosch, two against Highlands Park and their solitary goal in last week’s 1-1 draw at Black Leopards. That game saw Samir Nurkovic head home Manyama’s delivery.

Arrows don’t have a particularly tall side and could again use inexperienced goalkeeper Sifisio Mlungwana. They could therefore find themselves being very susceptible from those situations.

Options Increased?

For this game, Chiefs should not only have Akumu ready for selection, but Maluleka returns from suspension and this game was initially pencilled in as the return date for Khama Billiat too. Amakhosi have kept their cards close to the chest regarding the latter’s availability and he looks highly unlikely to start regardless.

However, having him on the bench would give better game-changing options than just Ernst Middendorp’s go-to alternation: Dumisani Zuma. He has come on as a sub in 16 of the side’s 18 league matches, but with less impact in recent outings. He has also been introduced at half-time in many matches, therefore not giving the coach much room to manoeuvre in the final 20-30 minutes.

Predicted line-ups:

Golden Arrows (4-3-2-1): Mlungwana; S. Dube, Sibisi, Mathiane, Lunga; Shitolo, Phiri, Makhubela; Mtshali, Lamola; Mutizwa.

Kaizer Chiefs (4-3-1-2): Akpeyi; Moleko, Mathoho, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya; Maluleka, Katsande, Baccus; Manyama; Castro, Nurkovic.