Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has called for more courage from his players following their slender 1-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership match on Wednesday.
A single goal from Mandla Masango handed Chiefs their 15th win of the league season and saw them up to 50 points on the table, but Baxter admits they did not have it all their own way against the Urban Warriors.
“We went a goal up, it wasn’t our first attack, but it was our best attack of the half,” said Baxter.
“Ajax settled on the pitch better than we did and I think they played better football in terms of possession.
“We came out and the last 15 minutes of the first half, we started getting a better balance in our play.
“In the second half we waited for the game. They (Ajax) have long periods of possession.”
The Amakhosi mentor also called on his players to show more courage to push forward and attack.
“I want more courage from the players,” added Baxter.
“Is there any doubt that we can play football? No, because even in this game we showed that we can play football, but I don’t want us to be waiting and waiting. I want to see us making things happen.
“I’m really happy with the three points, but I’m not particularly happy with their performance.
“Paradoxically, we had the better chances even when we were defending deep and I was trying to get us to get out of there and play the football that we can play more often.
“But if we are that deep, then you won’t, you’ll only be on transition. Even then we created chances, but I want us to be on the front foot more than that and I want us to be a little bit more in the face of the opponents rather than waiting for them to make a mistake.
“It will be a long, hard slog and performance will be the important thing. That’s why I’m not totally happy, even with the three points because you need to give good performances regularly that will end with the team winning the league.”
Looking ahead to the big Soweto Derby on Saturday against Orlando Pirates, Baxter hopes the fans get the display they want to see, but more importantly Chiefs get the result they want.
“I think the derby lives its own life, there’s no favourites, there’s no under dogs,” said Baxter.
“I just hope that we have a better performance for our team because that means that the game will be better and that the masses that come will be happier.
“Everyone wants to win so badly.
“I hope that the crowd gets the game that they want, but I hope that we get the result that we want.”
