Chiefs defend six-defender formation after Stellenbosch draw

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard says the team’s use of six defenders in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch was not evidence of a defensive approach, explaining that players’ duties and positions change throughout a match.

The result at FNB Stadium was Chiefs’ fifth draw of the season and their third in succession. Sheppard said the formation shown on the team sheet should not be viewed as a fixed reflection of how the side played.

“The system is just there as a starting system, but in the game all players have responsibilities to occupy different positions at certain times,” he said.

“We can say it’s defensive, but it’s going to be attacking when your wing-backs are nice and high, and you are on a 3-2-5, and it becomes an attacking system.”

The Chiefs selection included Reeve Frosler and Thabiso Monyane among the right-back options, while Paseka Mako and Reeve Frosler were also listed among the left-back choices. Central defenders Inacio Miguel and Thabo Moloisane completed the selection that prompted questions about the team’s attacking intent.

Sheppard said injuries to midfielders Lebohang Maboe, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Adolf Mtansangiwa had left Chiefs with limited options and contributed to the unusual set-up against Stellenbosch.

“The reason for the line-up, obviously, with the injuries we have, is that we are forced to. Young Thulani [Mabaso, a promising attacking midfielder] has just come back from a long-term injury, so to throw him into a game where we’ve just come off a Fifa break, I think it would’ve been unfair on him,” Sheppard said.

The assistant coach added that Chiefs had prepared Reeve Frosler for a midfield role during pre-season, making his selection there a planned alternative rather than an emergency decision.

“We had to find alternatives. In the preseason we worked with Reeve in the midfield, and like I say, he’s played that position before, and with the three weeks we had and prepared with him, he did really, really well, so that was the reason behind that.”

Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz was unable to attend the post-match press conference after starting to feel unwell following the game.

Stellenbosch took the lead through Sinoxolo Kwayiba, who gave the visitors an advantage 10 minutes before the hour mark. Mduduzi Shabalala restored parity for Amakhosi two minutes before the 60-minute mark.

Chiefs will now attempt to end their run of three consecutive draws when they travel to face Zambian side Red Arrows in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round.

The match will be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.