With movements within the Kaizer Chiefs striking department taking place, the Amakhosi technical staff will have their work cut out for themselves as they face the task of selecting one number nine from an array of top quality strikers.
As one of the candidates for a starting berth within the line-up, will Siphelele Mthembu benefit the most from former striker Kingston Nkhatha’s departure?
It is worth giving a mention to the rest of the strikers within in the team and see why Mthembu could be the number one beneficiary for that number nine spot.
Katlego Mphela, who has not seen much game time this season, is a natural goal poaching striker and Chiefs know that in Killer, they have a thoroughbred goal scorer. However, what may push him down the pecking order is that for the last two years he has done very little for former club Mamelodi Sundowns and current club Chiefs. This could well be signs of Mphela slowing, and at the age of 30, youth is no longer an assett for him.
Both Bernard Parker and newly signed David Zulu could play as number nine’s, however their creativity as number 10’s could benefit the squad more effectively.
This opens up the door for Mthembu to play as a natural number nine in a system coach Stuart Baxter loves to make use of. Much like Nkhatha, Mthembu has a physical presence about him and has the ability to harass defenders and tire them out.
Having said that, will Mthembu thrive following Nkhatha’s departure?
