Kaizer Chiefs latest: Baxter explains why he benched Nurkovic and Castro

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has explained his decision to bench both Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro against TS Galaxy on Saturday.

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Amakhosi’s frontline was led by Bernard Parker, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly, and Baxter’s team selection was again questioned.

Chiefs went on to lose the match 1-0 and thus crashing out of the Nedbank Cup in the first round of the competition.

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Now, Baxter said he benched the two out-and-out strikers because they still lack fitness and could only last for 30 to 40 minutes.

Nurkovic has just returned from a long-term knee injury while Castro has been back for a while but still hasn’t found his groove.

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Lebohang Manyama was perhaps another option upfront as a false 9, but Baxter said the lanky midfielder is facing the similar match fitness challenge.

And it is for that reason he had to go with a slightly different formation to try and accommodate those who raised their hands at the training grounds.

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BAXTER EXPLAINS SNUBBING NURKOVIC AND CASTRO IN CHIEFS’ LOSS

“We didn’t start Samir, ‘Lebza’, Leo for that reason… that they are off the pace in terms of 100% match fitness,” Baxter told reporters.

“We went with a slightly tweaked formation because we wanted to get our in-form players on the field. So, ‘Mshini’ had that role in the pocket where he could drive in towards their defence.

“We had Siya Ngezana at right-back, who would stay a bit more and let Ntiya-Ntiya kick on forward.”

“But again, even the in-form players didn’t play with the quality that we know they have.

“So, that’s why you gradually go towards what you know — that Samir can give you 30 or 40 minutes, and so is Leo and Lebza.

“So, when this one is not firing let’s try a different shape and personnel. We had to try and take the game back,” added Baxter.