Kaizer Chiefs are probably not ready to go pound for pound with Mamelodi Sundowns but their midfield depth will be tested in the MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash.
Amakhosi could be leaning towards modeling their game around playing on counter-attacks, which means their midfield could be bypassed in most instances going forward.
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They had employed a counter-attacking game in the league clash against Sundowns but they suffered a poor first-half where they were completely dominated. This was after surprisingly starting with Siyethemba Sithebe in a central midfield three that also included Yusuf Maart and Edson Castillo.
One of the big reasons a team might utilise a transition type of game is to hide weaknesses and it's an open secret that the Glamour Boys are yet to find suitable combinations that can make them click in possession of the ball.
However, against Sundowns, Amakhosi's selection and how their midfield functions, will be where the game will be won and lost.
Former Chiefs defender Siphiwe Mkhonza says the Glamour Boys are not effective when they are in possession of the ball but they will need to find a way to match the Brazilians in midfield, because otherwise they will be dominated.
"When Chiefs dominate possession, they are not effective, there's no creativity and ideas, that is why Chiefs spend less time on the ball but effective out of ball possession," Mkhonza said on SABC's Soccer Zone.
"But for a team like Chiefs, you need to dominate possession, you need to be able to establish control from midfield. That game against Sundowns will also test Chiefs in terms of making sure that they manage that midfield, because with Sundowns if you don't block the passing lanes, if you don't manage the half spaces, they're gonna be dominating," he said.
Mkhonza identified new signing Edson Castillo as an area of concern.
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Chiefs' depth in midfield is also under question, with Mduduzi Mdantsane playing as a third central midfielder in recent matches despite the fact that he lacks defensive qualities when the team is out of possession.
The transfer window closes on 22 September and it remains to be seen if the Glamour Boys would still strengthen their midfield after they could not secure the signing of Thabo Cele, whom they were linked with before the Bafana Bafana midfielder opted to sign with Russian Premier League side Fakel Voronezh instead.
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