Kaizer Chiefs captain Zitha Kwinika isn’t pulling any punches after their continental exit. With the CAF and Nedbank Cup dreams over, the veteran defender is demanding absolute focus on the Betway Premiership. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
With 13 English Premier League titles to his name during an illustrious tenure at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson famously said that “defence wins titles, and strikers win matches”.
Interestingly, with arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates competing in the Betway Premiership this season, the two Soweto giants seem to have heeded Ferguson’s sentiments by tightening up at the back.
Ahead of Chiefs hosting Stellenbosch and Mamelodi Sundowns visiting AmaZulu at FNB Stadium and Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night, Pirates and Chiefs boasted the fewest goals conceded at this stage in the season.
The Sea Robbers’ defence has only been breached seven times, while Chiefs had conceded only six goals, barring any concessions against Stellies at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Given the incredible form of No 1 Sipho Chaine and Brandon Petersen — the former has kept 12 clean sheets in 17 league games for Pirates, while the latter was on 11 in 15 league games for Chiefs before the Stellies encounter, respectively — the duo could very well decide the Soweto derby between the teams at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3.30 pm).
After all, before they can think too far ahead in the title race, they need to take each game as it comes and collect points along the way, including during their meeting in the Soweto derby.
Chaine had a strong defensive backbone in the first half of the season, with youngsters Lebone Seema and Mbekezeli Mbokazi playing like seasoned campaigners despite being in only their first full seasons at the club.
Mbokazi, however, has since left Pirates, joining MLS side Chicago Fire during the recent transfer window, with his place temporarily filled by club captain Nkosinathi Sibisi. While Sibisi has had his shortcomings, he helped the team conjure up an unbeaten start to the year before they eventually fell to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league at FNB last Wednesday.
Sibisi, who has since captained the team to back-to-back defeats – including a 5-4 loss on penalties to Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup last 16 last Sunday – will know that losing for the third time in a row, especially to arch-rivals Chiefs, would be catastrophic not only for their title charge but also for the club’s history and its supporters.
As such, expect the team to be on high alert to keep a clean sheet against their sworn enemies – at the very least to salvage a draw – in their first clash of the season.
But they will not be the only side capable of keeping a clean sheet. While Chiefs have been firing blanks up-front – resulting in their recent exits from the Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup – they have kept things tidy at the back, particularly in the league.
Petersen is enjoying his best season at Chiefs, leading from the back as club captain and eager to carve his name among some of the best goalkeepers the club has ever had.
What has also been interesting about Petersen’s form is that it has come behind an unsettled defence, with frequent rotation due to injuries and suspensions. However, with the rotation clearly working – as whoever gets the nod on the day puts in a solid shift – Zitha Kwinika has lauded the entire team’s effort and camaraderie, not just that of the defenders.
“I don’t like to classify groups because I always think it’s a team effort,” Kwinika said. “So, it wouldn’t be fair for me to say that we are doing our job and they are doing theirs because, at the end of the day, they also help us defend.”
Be that as it may, with Chiefs heading into the Soweto derby in need of a win and bragging rights, Kwinika will want the strikers to contribute more goals, as this will improve their chances of victory, boost morale, and strengthen their title hopes as the race intensifies.
* Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch