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Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has provided an honest analysis of Amakhosi’s inconsistencies so far this season.
Heading into their blockbuster DStv Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday night in an 8pm kick-off, Khune reflects on what needs to be fixed in his camp.
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He citied silly errors and a negative home record as two of the factors that must be eliminated if Chiefs are to be in serious contention for silverware.
The Amakhosi captain said:
Chiefs lost the match 1-0 at FNB Stadium on January 7, which was day Amakhosi’s 53rd anniversary celebrations began.
As if this was not enough of a party-pooper, Khune and his team-mates suffered a 4-0 humiliation against AmaZulu six days later.
He said:
Khune argued that the team was “not doing badly because we are still number four after two loses”, in reference to the back-to-back defeats against AmaZulu and Sekhukhune.
In 16 matches so far, Amakhosi won seven, drew three and lost six.
Khune said:
"If you check our statistics - home and away - we play good football and create [scoring] chances. Unfortunately, when you don’t convert, these teams wait for just one opportunity and they take it."
"So, we have to remain switched on throughout the 90-plus minutes so that we don’t give them hope and opportunity to even hit the target," Khune pointed out.
The contributing factors in Chiefs’ fluctuating form according to Khune
We made silly mistakes that led into goals and that’s something that shouldn’t be happening when you play for Kaizer Chief.
Even our coach was telling us about the stats, that out of the 20 goals we conceded in the league this season, we gave 13 of those goals to the opponents. We made those errors in our last third and gifted them the goals.
So, those are the kinds of things we need to avoid, which is silly errors in our own half. We play good football and take the game to our opponents, but we get disappointed when we get in front of goal.
If you look at the stats, first half only, we create more than nine chances, but we’ll hit the target once. And that something that needs to change.
Khune believes that, had it not been for these costly mistakes, Amakhosi would be well within a touching distance of the log leaders.
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Sundowns are ridingan 11-match winning streak and the Pretoria side head into the match tonight boasting a 19-point difference over Chiefs.
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Khune remains optimistic that his side will turn the corner: “At this point, it’s important for us to stick together as a team and for our fans to rally behind us. Things will take a turn and we’ll get positive results going forward.”
DStv Premiership fixtures this weekend
Saturday
Golden Arrows vs Maritzburg United (Princess Magogo Stadium, 3.30pm)
Royal AM vs Chippa United (Chatsworth Stadium, 3.30pm)
Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns (FNB Stadium, 8pm)
AmaZulu vs Marumo Gallants (Moses Mabhida Stadium, 8pm)
Sunday
Orlando Pirates vs Stellenbosch (Orlando Stadium, 3.30pm)
SuperSport United vs Richards Bay (Lucas Moripe Stadium, 3.30pm)
