Junior Khanye questions whether Faiz Abrahams fits Kaizer Chiefs’ style after debut

iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye has questioned whether Faiz Abrahams is suited to Kaizer Chiefs’ style of play after criticising the winger’s crossing during his debut for the club.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute in Chiefs’ 2-2 comeback draw away to Richards Bay in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, playing the final 24 minutes of the match.

Abrahams joined Amakhosi earlier this month on a season-long loan from Stellenbosch FC. Kaizer Chiefs have an option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

The draw extended Chiefs’ unbeaten start to the league campaign, but they dropped to third in the table with eight points from four matches. They are two points behind the leaders.

Khanye said Abrahams appeared to follow an instruction to deliver crosses into the penalty area, but argued that the tactic was ineffective because Chiefs did not have enough players attacking those deliveries.

“It’s important when you sign players to look at how the club plays but obviously Kaizer Chiefs’ style of play now, I don’t think it’s something they are concerned with,” said Khanye oniDiski TV.

“Each and every player that’s available they think will suit their style of play. The guy is a typical Cape Town winger whereby he’s more of a crosser. In the second half, Kaizer Chiefs had ball possession they should have scored a lot of goals, but a cross is anybody’s ball. It seems like it was the instruction of the coach when he put him in to play crosses.

“I haven’t watched him a lot at his previous club, but I saw him today and he wanted to cross every ball he received. And who was he crossing to, Duba in the box. They lack a natural number 10, someone who can carry the team. They lack a wing-forward that will cut in and go on to score goals. Sometimes you don’t have to cross.

“You have to take responsibility, and I understand he plays under instructions but sometimes players are the coach on the field. These are professional players, if they say cross and you are not looking who’s in the box and there’s Duba alone against four tall people. It showed that the coach believes in crosses.”

Khanye’s assessment focused on what he believes is a lack of creativity and direct attacking play in the Chiefs side. He said the team needed a natural number 10 capable of carrying responsibility and a wing-forward who could move inside from the flank and threaten the goal.

Although Abrahams was playing under instructions, Khanye suggested the player also had to make better decisions during the match rather than repeatedly attempting to cross without checking how many teammates were available in the box.

The analyst added that he had not watched Abrahams extensively during his time at Stellenbosch FC, but had formed his initial view from the winger’s first appearance for Kaizer Chiefs.

Khanye’s full analysis of the Betway Premiership match between Richards Bay and Kaizer Chiefs is available on the official iDiski TV YouTube channel.

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