/ 18 February 2008

Motaung: ‘Amakhosi need to go full throttle’

After Kaizer Chiefs lost 1-0 to Thanda Royal Zulu on Wednesday evening their chairperson Kaizer Motaung voiced his displeasure on the club’s website.

”Clearly the technical team has become more defensive by playing a lone striker system that also has no supplier or some innovation in penetration,” Motaung said.

When Muhsin Ertugral joined Chiefs for his second spell he let go of creative players Gert Schalkwyk and Scara Ngobese. While the affable founder of South Africa’s biggest club did not mention a name, it is clear that he is not happy with Ertugral and his assistant Fani Madida.

”I had cited the need for results but it seemed that the experimenting with positional changes prevailed to deny us maximum points. I may also not have qualms with our adopted youth policy but the manner in which it is introduced

and implemented is cause for concern.”

”I declared in my previous columns that Amakhosi need to go full throttle if any chance of ascending to the top of the log were to be realised. There is no doubt that losing has compounded our chances and it would require blood and guts to claw our way back into a respectable position in the log,”[sic] he said.

Chiefs played to a 0-0 draw with relegation candidates Jomo Cosmos on Sunday and are hovering above the drop zone, 13 points behind leaders Ajax Cape Town who have 32. There was no experimenting this time against Cosmos as former SA striker Shaun Bartlett led the attack, right-back Jimmy Tau returned to defence and midfield general Tinashe Nengomashe was present too.

The mandate from Motaung is clear but it seems Ertugral and his charges are not getting the message. With five side sides below them battling to get away from relegation and another five gunning for the league title, their very essence is in for a severe test.

The once-mighty AmaKhosi have only five points more than Cosmos and are tied with Thanda Royal on 19. – Sapa