Cavin Johnson explains why Kaizer Chiefs trained at 2 am. Image: iDiski Times.
Open letter to Kaizer Chiefs: Time to remove Cavin Johnson!
Mathematically, Kaizer Chiefs could still be relegated or qualify for continental football and to fight for the latter Cavin Johnson must go!
Cavin Johnson explains why Kaizer Chiefs trained at 2 am. Image: iDiski Times.
Kaizer Chiefs suffered their third defeat in a row, after losing 1-0 to relegation threatened Richards Bay FC on Sunday.
Chiefs have failed to find the back of the net in their last three games with nothing going for them.
It looked like that wouldn’t be the case against Richards Bay, however, as Chiefs started brightly. They had two big chances through attackers Mduduzi Shabalala and Christian Saile. On both occasions, however, they both found the keeper instead of the net, with their curling efforts. When it mattered the most, it would be the hosts who scored the decisive goal through Simphiwe Mcineka.
For Richards Bay, it was a crucial three points, as they continue their struggle to stay in the topflight. For Chiefs, it was a very damage run which saw a team which was challenging for a CAF spot, now outside of the top eight positions in the league. Speaking to the KZN media after the game, Amakhosi interim coach Cavin Johnson could not hide his frustration.
“Again, one of those games your opposition has one chance at goal. You have 85% ball possession, and we (Chiefs) are not able to win the game. Yes, we are very angry with ourselves but at the same time I thought we should have won the game in the first half,” said Johnson.
That loss to Richards Bay means that Chiefs are yet to secure mathematical safety from relegation. They still need just one more point to secure their topflight status, however. Even that is a crazy statement to make, for a team that was eyeing CAF Champions League football at the turn of the year. Getting one point might seem like an easy task, but having failed to win in their last three, there can be no guarantees.
The loss also means Chiefs have won just one game in their last 10 matches in all competitions. During that run, they have not been able to score in a total of seven matches. Johnson has chopped and changed, as well as gone back to similar starting line ups, but still cannot inspire confidence in the group!
Chiefs could still be relegated
It is still possible for Chiefs to fight for third spot, with that giving them an opportunity to play CAF Confederations Cup football. That would, however, require them to win all of their remaining six games. It is for that reason that the club need to remove Johnson, because it is clear he cannot arrest the slump. The players clearly need a new voice, fresh ideas and someone who is willing to take risks.
Johnson has three times opted to go for a midfield axis of Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Siyethemba Sithebe. Those being two players who are not known for their creative or shooting prowess. It is perhaps then, not a mystery why Chiefs have been struggling to create chances and score goals.
Time to remove Johnson
During that period a creative passer like Samkelo Zwane has hardly got a sniff. He has hardly taken the risk of fielding another exciting, fearless creative in Mfundo Vilakazi. He has hardly played his most senior playmaker in Mduduzi Mdantsane either, despite a promising display in the Soweto Derby. So with such decisions still to persist, it would probably be in the best interests of Chiefs to find another interim solution. This only if they harbour any ambitions of finishing third still.
They still have six more chances to do so, however. Chiefs should also take solace from the fact that their next opponents, in SuperSport United have not won in 2024.
