Dan Malesela is totally replicating Man City’s style of play under Pep Guardiola.
Chippa hold the ball as long as possible and frustrate their opponents. They’ve effectively introduced a new style of playing football in SA. A total football/possession-based football, which allows them to attack in numbers and defend as a unit. Their short passing game made life difficult for Mamelodi Sundowns. It forced downs wingers to constantly track back to assist their full backs as Chippa’s wingers and their full backs were drifting inside and out to open up the pitch.
The role that Pep has given to Sterling, to play wide and come inside, is similar to the one Dan has assigned to Lorch, and is paying dividends. He is definitely enjoying his game and causing trouble for his opponents. Similarly, Sali is playing more like Kevin De Bruyne, while Sangweni plays exactly like Fernando. Their ability to hold the ball was proven on the weekend against Downs, with ball possession of 61% to 39%, which makes them the first team to ever dominant Downs in this fashion.
The type of formation and discipline Chippa are showing makes Malesela and his players love and enjoy what they are doing, and it gives them more confidence on the ball, allowing them to create more scoring opportunities.
Dan Malesela has definitely learned one or two things from the Spanish mastermind, who is winning most of the tactical battles, and now Dance is doing exactly that, which is now defining Chippa as the PSL underdogs that punch above their weight with superior football tactics.
Do you think Dan Maselesa is South Africa’s Pep?
*This article was written by a Soccer Laduma reader and reflects their opinion, not that of Soccer Laduma.
