Still no sign that Kaizer Chiefs have found a goalscorer

IOL News

5 days ago

Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is about to begin his second season in charge of the club and will be desperate for a prolific striker who can score goals. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Newspapers
COMMENT
On the eve of the new Betway Premiership season, the question on everyone's lips remains the same: where are the goals for Kaizer Chiefs?
This would have been foremost in the minds of fans as Kaizer Chiefs have stumbled at the finish line once again, suffering a defeat to Ghanaian visitors Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup on Saturday.
The encounter, held at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium, ended goalless after 90 minutes and was ultimately decided by a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.
Marking their second consecutive year of falling short in this competition, having lost to Young Africans last year, Chiefs now face a daunting prospect as they prepare for the upcoming season.
It was their sixth outing during the pre-season, and Chiefs struggled to assert their dominance in the first half. This challenge was exacerbated by the mounting pressure of expectations from their passionate supporters.
Despite the hope that the pre-season clash would serve as a springboard for success, it was not to be as the match ended goalless after regulation time.
The tense encounter was ultimately decided by a penalty shoot-out, where Chiefs failed to exploit their chances, limiting their efforts to seize victory. Last year, the clubs faced a similar fate against Young Africans, ending the tournament without silverware and subsequently finishing the Premiership season in a disappointing ninth position.
While substitutions in the second half brought a noticeable change in intensity, it was not enough to secure victory. Notable replacements Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Pule Mmodi injected life into the team, but the opportunity to clinch a win remained elusive as the penalty shoot-out brought significant uncertainty into the mix.
After the match, head coach Nasreddine Nabi remained upbeat, asserting that the game provided valuable insights into the teams' performance and areas for improvement. That has been his demeanour ever since he joined Chiefs, but the fans will become impatient with him if the season does not start on a high note after two or three rounds.
Nabi's sentiment fuels hope that the lessons learned from this latest setback will galvanise the Chiefs as they embark on a fresh league campaign.
As Kaizer Chiefs regroup and recalibrate, they should harness this disappointment to fuel their ambitions for the season ahead. Only time will tell, but their supporters will be eagerly awaiting the chance to witness the fruits of these valuable pre-season experiences.