Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has explained the role of Pule Mmodi and his decision to alternate between a back three and back four this season.
Mmodi, traditionally deployed as a winger, has found himself operating in a more unfamiliar left wing-back role as Chiefs have shifted towards a 3-4-3 system.
The tactical change has partly been enforced by injuries, particularly in the left-back position, as they started the season without Bradley Cross, Paseko Mako and Nkanyiso Shinga – but Mmodi has taken his opportunity and started Chiefs’ last three matches.
“He’s been in the starting XI for the last three consecutive games, it’s a good choice when we play a back-five, he took his chances in the last three games and he played well,” Da Cruz said.
The French coach was then pressed on whether the back-three system was becoming a permanent tactical shift, having initially preferred a traditional back four.
Da Cruz made it clear that the formation is not set in stone, insisting Chiefs are working towards becoming a more flexible and adaptable side.
“No… for the moment I am happy we’re able to play in two systems, but at the moment, we’re playing this system due to injured players,” he explained.
“Sometimes [my decision] will depend on the opposition, different choices of profile of players, sometimes it will be a back three, sometimes a back four, it’s just an option. I’m happy the team can play in two systems.”
The coach also stressed that the current use of three centre-backs should not be interpreted as a permanent move towards playing with five defenders.
“We work to have to hybrid team, so it will sometimes depend on different situations, but we will not play with five defenders all season,” Da Cruz concluded.
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