3 days Ago
For the most part, Chiefs' new signings did not disappoint against Marumo Gallants on Saturday, displaying the sort of character required to handle the pressure associated with a team of the stature of Kaizer Chiefs. Fiacre Ntwari, Rushwin Dortley, Inacio Miguel, Bradley Cross and Gaston Sirino were all handed their debuts by new head coach Nasreddine Nabi, and all lived up to the billing. Izimpofana beat a stubborn Siwelele Sa Marumo 2-1 in what was a hard-fought battle that culminated in the home side's wingback Joseph Molangoane receiving his marching orders for a professional foul.
Chiefs are currently top of the Betway Premiership standings, equal on points with Polokwane City and Richards Bay FC, with only half of the 16 teams having played their first round of fixtures so far due to CAF commitments by others. "There is a different sense of energy in the team," Isaacs notes, as he reviews the match with . "If your defence is nice and solid, it gives the whole team confidence.
New goalkeeper, new defence, new broom sweeps clean. "The competition in the team is now very high. You can tell [that it's a case of] once you snooze, you lose.
Anybody can be replaced at any time. That is what is required at the big clubs. "I foresee huge improvement from last season.
They can compete. But expecting them to win trophies, that's gonna be a little bit too much, too soon," added the former junior international. Isaacs had nothing but praise for Sirino, who has fitted in like a hand in glove and is considered to have been unlucky not to have walked away with the Man of the Match award after a stellar display.
"Sirino has always been a quality player. Going forward, I see the combinations growing stronger and stronger. His passes can unlock defenders.
But they still need to find somebody that will play close to them. "Him [Nabi] fielding youngsters, that was a big one for me. This team played well, it's just that going up the field, things didn't work.
"[Xola] Mlambo and [Edgar] Manaka, both from Marumo Gallants, are good footballers for me. They stood out for me. "Gallants, people shouldn't take them lightly.
They are going to surprise a lot of people. They were not scared to play. "But then again, coach Dan Malesela's teams play good football.
Not enough credit is given to coach Dan. Every team he touches plays a good brand of football.".
