After taking over from Molefi Ntseki in October, Cavin Johnson has overseen 14 matches in charge. Whilst that is not a huge sample size, the experienced coach is heading towards six months at the helm. We’ve seen the coach try five different options in the number nine role, numerous central defensive partnerships, a few formations and 29 different players. The former Al Ahly and Platinum Stars coach has spoken constantly about the “Kaizer Chiefs Way” of playing football… but are we starting to see him implement that particular brand of football? Below, we take a look at the skill-sets of players favoured by the coach and whether we’re seeing a clear and distinctive style of play or whether it’s all a bit unstructured and off the cuff.
What the last three matches have taught us
After a seven-match unbeaten run in the league, their best such streak since before COVID, Chiefs are now winless in three matches with just one point accrued. What can we learn from the defeats to Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC and the draw with Cape Town City? Firstly, we can see that Amakhosi’s unbeaten streak came against sides either towards the bottom of the table or ones that are in extended runs of poor form. As soon as they played teams above them in the table, they have been found out. Against Pirates, Chiefs were outclassed in the first half despite holding a lead against the run of play.
