Chiefs Legend Names Two Players He Blames for Amakhosi’s CAF Exit

Kaizer Chiefs legend Zebulon Nhlapo has given his view on why Mduduzi Shabalala and Asanele Velebayi struggled in front of goal when Amakhosi were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup by Red Arrows.

Chiefs went into the second leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, 23 October, needing to turn around a 1-0 defeat from the first leg against the Zambian side. They won the match 1-0 on the night, which made the aggregate score 1-1, but they lost 3-2 on penalties.

The tie might have gone another way if the Glamour Boys had taken some of their chances in normal time. Nhlapo believes the problem is linked to confidence, which may be affecting the decisions the attackers make at important moments. “They do not have much confidence at the moment,” is the comment attributed to him. His view points to a concern bigger than one or two missed chances, as Chiefs continue to look for consistency in attack.

Shabalala had two clear chances after Bradley Cross scored the equaliser in the 66th minute. In the 79th minute he sent a shot over the crossbar, after substitute Mfundo Vilakazi made a strong run that opened up space inside the box. Five minutes later, Ethan Chislett played him through on goal, but his effort went straight at Red Arrows goalkeeper Charles Kalumba, who saved it. Velebayi also missed the target late in the game, when Chiefs badly needed another goal.

The exit is a big disappointment for Chiefs, who wanted to reach the group stages. It also adds pressure on the team to bounce back in their remaining domestic matches. Their attention now turns to those fixtures, including the Carling Knockout, where Amakhosi will get another chance to fight for a trophy.

For Shabalala and Velebayi, regaining confidence and showing more composure in front of goal will be important as the season goes on. Chiefs have shown that they can create chances, but they will need to finish them to reach their goals. Nhlapo’s comments also leave the coaching staff with a question to answer: how do they help their attackers find the belief they need when it matters most? The coming games will give both players a chance to respond.

Source https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2114810122425745525

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