The return of Khama Billiat is going to give Kaizer Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp a lot of options in the attack, and he comes back at a critical time when it’s the business end of the season in the Absa Premiership.
Middendorp was commenting after seeing Billiat helped the team’s variation in the attack when he brought him in during the second half of their 1-0 win over Royal Eagles in the Nedbank Cup last 32 match at FNB Stadium this past weekend.
The Zimbabwean international’s quick inter-passing game in the second half, linking up well with Lebogang Manyama, George Maluleka and Samir Nurkovic was something different from the route one, aerial ball Chiefs had been focusing on recently.
Middendorp is pleased to have a fresher and hungry Billiat, back from a long term injury.
Also making his return to the team this past weekend since September last year, was the club’s captain Itumeleng Khune who also managed to keep a clean sheet.
With Nigerian international Daniel Akpeyi having done well so far, it’s going to be interesting how Middendorp deals with this situation as they return to the league programme against Maritzburg United this coming weekend.
Playing against a team that had failed to win in their last five matches in the Glad Africa Championship and is rooted at the bottom of the log, Chiefs were not convincing on the day either.
Despite remaining at the top on the log, it’s been a testing start for them in 2020 but Middendorp still believes that they are doing well.
Recently, Chiefs Lee Baxter’s contract as the goalkeeper coach for the next two years, the healthy competition in the club’s goalkeeping department also points at the good work Baxter and the keepers are doing.
Middendorp says this a reflection on the excellent contribution by members of his support staff.
But the German-born coach didn’t miss the opportunity to say they are still behind other top teams when it comes to the numbers of his support staff but says they will soldier on. – Report by Velile Mnyandu
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