OPINION: Kaizer Chiefs are targeting the wrong Bafana stars

Kaizer Chiefs have been linked with several Bafana Bafana attackers but there’s one they might regret not having a closer look at.

Football teams are nothing without a solid midfield base

Once Chiefs sort out a reliable, authoritative midfield maestro to make them a more sturdy unit, only then should they be looking to garnish the side with frilly attacking players. It sounds counterintuitive for a team struggling to score goals, but it makes sense. Tondela and Bafana Bafana maestro nicknamed ‘Yaya’ churned out some storming performances at Afcon 2023. He has 18 appearances in the second-tier of Portuguese football this term, scoring twice and assisting twice. With reported interest from Italy’s Serie A, the combative 25-year-old midfield maestro won’t be the cheapest option on the market.

Sithole is a boss

Like his Bafana teammate Teboho Mokoena, who lays the foundation for a dominant Sundowns team, Sithole has the quality and authority to give the Chiefs midfield something it’s lacked for too long. Once the Glamour Boys have a player of this calibre installed, they can build towards becoming a fluent, attacking unit. Chiefs, shockingly, have only 19 goals from 24 league games this term and a goal difference of zero.

Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole urges his teammates to bring their A game against Morocco. Image: (@SphepheloSithole/Instagram)

Kaizer Chiefs are stacked in the wide areas

Right now, Amakhosi have several wide attackers at their disposal. Ashley Du Preez is capable of playing there or through the centre, Mduduzi Shabalala is a winger who’s also being trained into a number 10 role, Christian Saile is an option on the right-hand side and newly-promoted Mfundo Vilakazi is an out and out winger. Of course, there’s always room for improvement and Mokwana would potentially be a step up on all of these players, but a central midfielder remains the top priority for the Glamour Boys. Once they address that problem position, an issue which hasn’t been resolved since the departure of Njabulo Blom, the club can think about additions in the final third of the pitch. Mokwana has four goals and four assists from 19 league appearances this term, so, understandably, he’s a wanted man.

Elias Mokwana in action. Image: Citizen

What’s next for Amakhosi?

Cavon Johnson’s team, fresh off yet another demoralising defeat, this time to Richard Bay, must dust themselves down and prepare for the challenge of a clash with SuperSport next weekend. A place in the top 8, even the top 10, now looks in serious jeopardy

• 27 April vs SuperSport United (H) – 17:00
• 30 April vs Mamelodi Sundowns (H) – 19:30
• 11 May vs AmaZulu (A) – 17:00
• 18 May vs Polokwane City (H) – 15:00
• 25 May vs Cape Town Spurs (A) – 15:00

Kaizer Chiefs fans encapsulating the passion of a Soweto Derby. Image: BackpagePix

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