Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane admits it was frustrating to miss the chance to move ahead of the chasing pack for the second time this season.
Earlier in the campaign, Amakhosi were poised to move to the summit but spurned a 1-0 lead to Chippa United to lose 2-1, having seen other results favour them.
And with SuperSport United, Richards Bay and Orlando Pirates all tasting defeat this weekend, they could have moved to second on the 53rd anniversary – but Sekhukhune United had other ideas.
“We saw the opportunity and said guys, most of the teams that are part of the chasing pack, lost… and it was an opportunity for us to climb the ladder,” Zwane said.
“But it wasn’t to be, it’s the second time now but I don’t think it will happen for the third time – I remember we had an opportunity to go first, when we faced Chippa – it did not happen and this time we had the opportunity to go second.
“So obviously it will… it will happen at thr right time, I do believe it will happen at the right time – and for the fact of not being bad for our performances, when you look at the boys, how they exert themselves, I’m a proud coach. I’m proud to work with them and we’re on the right track.”
With current DStv Premiership top scorer Bonfils Caleb Bimenyimana notably marked by two defenders during the first half and three in the closing stages of the game, Zwane was adamant that they aren’t over-reliant on him for the goals to win games.
The Burundi international has netted seven in his debut season thus far, and has spearheaded their attack to good effect.
“I think if you look at the chances we created, we had a plan B, we managed to operate in the half spaces and created goalscoring opportunities,” Zwane explained.
“When you look at the players that had shots at goal and created chances, it wasn’t Caleb and that was a plus for us – for the fact you could see they put a lot of bodies around him. So it meant there was spaces for other players to exploit.”
The returning Ashley du Preez, Nkosingphile Mshini Ngcobo and Mduduzi Shabalala, did however impress Zwane, which he feels breeds optimism going into their next fixtures.
“And I think the others did well… their keeper kept them in the game, when you look at the number of chances we created, maybe if we scored one, we’d have opened the floodgates – but it wasn’t to be, I commend the effort of the boys,” he continued.
“The young Mduduzi, when he came on, Ash as well, Mshini had control of the midfield and it what we want to see, he’s growing in stature which is a good thing for us, because we need more of our ball players to be in charge you know – and I think Mshini played very well.”
