Their fans were the most talkative and those who supported other teams wished they had supported the Naturena giants. Things have changed drastically and any team can now beat Amakhosi, who have bombed out of CAF competitions and whose romance with the Nedbank Cup now remains uncertain.
Soon after their loss to DRC side AS Vita in the second round of the CAF Champions League, Chiefs have been a pale shadow of the side that steamrolled past all and sundry. They have lost at home to Mpumalanga Black Aces, Mamelodi Sundowns and Asec Mimosas, while drawing to Wits in their last ABSA PSL game.
At this rate, the Soweto giants are facing a barren season, just like their arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates, who have nothing to show for their toil, despite having reached three cup finals since the season began.
Not even the staunchest of their supporters would still argue that the league, where Chiefs now trail Mamelodi Sundowns, is still within reach. Staying in the Nedbank Cup, where they play Wits remains in the semi-finals is also uncertain, given the current form of Stuart Baxter’s erstwhile well-oiled machine.
With chief striker Knowledge Musona now set to miss the remainder of the season, Chiefs are as good as any ordinary side going into the remaining games. It was Musona’s recent dance with injuries that reduced them to that position in the first place and without the Zimbabwean, they are easily beatable.
However, Musona’s compatriot, Matthew Rusike, said recently that all was not lost for the side that traditionally has the ability to rise from the dead. “It’s in us to look to win every game we play. It is going to be difficult to turn the tables but we have a good enough team to win,” said the Zimbabwean striker, who has been vital as a substitute for the side.
The Kaizer Chiefs medical Team recently revealed that Musona will be out for the rest of the season due to what was initially described as an ankle sprain in the 2-0 win over AS Vita Club on March 29.
His injury was initially described as mysterious and at one point Coach Baxter said medics could not pin down a 100 per cent diagnosis. Musona had another scan on April 22, as he was not responding to treatment and it was revealed that there was an injury to the bone, which didn’t show up on the first MRI scan. He has been put in a boot for 4-6 weeks, which means he will miss the rest of the season.
Post published in: Football