Kaizer Chiefs need more firepower and defensive leaders, says Thabiso Malatsi

Kaizer Chiefs must strengthen their attack and defence if they are to challenge for silverware this season, according to former midfielder Thabiso Malatsi.

Amakhosi have made a positive start to the Betway Premiership campaign and sit second in the table after three rounds, but their season began with disappointment in the MTN8.

Chiefs, who had not featured in the competition for three seasons, were eliminated in the first round after losing 1-0 to Golden Arrows.

Malatsi believes the club still needs to add two clinical strikers, along with players capable of operating in wide positions.

“They are coming alright, even though I will be honest, in my opinion, we’re still lacking a lot. I believe we still need two strikers, goal-poachers. I mean the snipers. If we can get two of those and wingers, because we don’t have wingers,” Malatsi told KickOff.

The former winger, who was born in Daveyton, praised the early performances of new signing Langelihle Phili and Luke Baartman.

“But I’m impressed with this boy who has just been signed, (Langelihle) Phili. I’ve also been impressed with (Luke) Baartman. I think we also need (position) four and five, two defenders.

Malatsi also questioned whether Chiefs currently possess enough pace and leadership at the heart of their defence. He singled out Inacio Miguel as a quality player but said the defender lacks speed.

“Because for me (Inacio) Miguel is slow, he is a quality player but he’s slow. You know at Chiefs when we were playing, we had a lot of leaders, the likes of (Patrick) Mabedi, (Fabian) McCarthy, Cyril Nzama, we need that (type of quality),” Malatsi said.

He added that the current side needed to reconnect with the identity traditionally associated with the Soweto club, while insisting that the players should be given time to settle and develop.

“If Chiefs can also go back to that culture, because now what they are playing it’s not the culture of Chiefs but they are coming alright. But if they can continue like this, I believe there’s no player who would go into the pitch to deliberately make the team lose, so we just need to give them time, for everybody to get a chance.

Despite some supporters doubting Chiefs’ prospects of winning a trophy this season, Malatsi remains confident that the team can end its campaign with silverware.

“I hear a lot of people are saying Chiefs this season won’t get a trophy but I believe they will get a trophy the way I see it, playing with youngsters. They just need to love each other, focus. I would also like to ask one thing from the players, let’s love and respect the supporters because (as players) we’re what we are because of supporters,” the former Chiefs player pleaded.

Chiefs will have the opportunity to build on their league start when they return to Betway Premiership action on Wednesday evening.

They travel to face Richards Bay at Princes Magogo Stadium, with Malatsi’s call for greater attacking threat, defensive strength and respect for the supporters providing a clear assessment of what he believes the club needs to improve.