Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has explained why he can’t play six or seven of his new signings at the same time.
The Englishman returned to Amakhosi and his squad has been bolstered by nine new players so far.
However, four of those new names – Austin Dube, Njabulo Ngcobo, Sibusiso Mabiliso and Brandon Petersen – are yet to feature in his starting XI.
Baxter has insisted that some players take longer to adapt to a new club and he wants to incorporate the new face step by step.
“Sifiso Hlanti is a new player as well, and he’s played. Some of the players have had long layoffs, some had injuries they were recovering from,” he told the club’s media department.
“It’s meant you’re never going to be able to throw six or seven players into a starting line-up.
“Some of the players maybe came and were surprised at how big a deal it is to play for Kaizer Chiefs. The expectations on them is something that’s different from what they are used to.
“So, bedding in, getting fit, up to speed, that all takes time and that will happen at different rates.
“We will keep trying to balance the team, bring players in at the right speed, and then we will see how we go.
“We have a couple of players in the national team, which we are very proud of, and we are now better equipped to fight for places.”
Baxter also previewed his side’s tie with Baroka on Wednesday, saying there are no easy games in the DStv Premiership anymore.
“Gone are the days that you get a team and you think this is going to be an easier game. Baroka have always been a difficult opponent for Chiefs,” he added.
“Baroka will have their tails up, they will come into this game knowing they have done it before, and they will want to do it again. There’s no being a super favourite to win the game, there’s none of that anymore.
“Every game is a different proposition and a difficult proposition. We’ve got to work out how we can be an unpleasant opponent for Baroka and not wait for them to be an unpleasant opponent for us.
“That’s got to be where the focus has got to be. The boys have done really well in training and they’re pretty fired up.”
