Niemach urges patience as Chiefs seek answers to striker problems

A former Kaizer Chiefs striker has called for patience from supporters, saying the club’s forwards need time to settle and develop rather than being repeatedly replaced in the search for a solution to the team’s goalscoring difficulties.

The Amakhosi attack has made progress at the start of the new season and appears significantly stronger than it was during the previous campaign. Under new coach Fernando Da Cruz, Chiefs’ forwards have operated with greater tempo, although their progress has been interrupted by a series of unexpected injuries.

Chiefs currently have Luke Baartman, Flavio Silva, Wandile Duba and Etiosa Ighodaro available among their striking options, while Khanyisa Mayo is injured. The former striker believes that group should be allowed to build an understanding instead of being continually reshuffled or supplemented by further signings.

Speaking to KickOff, Niemach said the decision to recruit more players should rest with Da Cruz and the club’s management, given the expectations placed on the new coach.

“When a new coach comes in, he usually has his ideas, and the mandate is, obviously, between them and the management, but it has to be Champions League and challenging for the PSL title. Whether they need more players, I think it’s entirely up to the coach. He’s got to deliver on the mandate; that’s what is important,” Niemach told KickOff.

The former Amakhosi forward said the priority should be finding the most effective way to use the strikers already at the club, rather than increasing the size of the squad.

“The issue with the current Chiefs strikers is how you fit them in, how the coach can get the best out of them. It doesn’t help to add two more strikers and then find yourself with seven, like the previous coach used to. You must stick with only the strikers you will need. Try to make the ones you have better.”

Niemach’s comments come as Da Cruz continues to assess his attacking options and determine which combinations can provide greater consistency in front of goal. The club’s striking department has been under particular scrutiny after a difficult previous campaign, but the former player believes constant change would make it harder for the forwards to establish themselves.

He also criticised what he sees as a wider tendency within South African football to demand immediate results from players and coaches, warning that supporters can be too quick to call for individuals to leave.

“Sometimes, we are too quick to complain and say ‘Hey, this one must go.’ That’s how we are in South Africa; we don’t give people a chance. Let’s allow the coach to work with the strikers so he can find out which combinations work best,” Niemach concluded.