Injuries expose Kaizer Chiefs’ midfield depth, says Frank Makua

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Frank Makua says the club’s recent injury problems have highlighted a lack of squad depth and raised questions over their recruitment policy.

Kaizer Chiefs were forced to adjust their midfield during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch after Lebohang Maboe, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Adolf Bitegeko were ruled out through injury.

Head coach Fernando Da Cruz used Reeve Frosler in an unfamiliar midfield role, alongside defensive midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa. The reshaped unit struggled to establish control or rhythm during the match.

Makua believes the situation is particularly concerning for a club of Chiefs’ size, with the team also preparing to compete in CAF competition before facing Orlando Pirates on 31 October.

“It does (expose) them, somewhere, somehow because Chiefs is a big team, it’s a big brand, so we need to have enough depth for in cases like these ones, injuries, suspensions,” Makua told KickOff.

“Look now this weekend they’re going to compete in CAF, what if something happens to those who are there now? It’s going to be a big problem coming back to play Pirates on the 31st (of October).

“We need to have quality players, quality that will add value, bring a player who can give you the same thing as this one (who is starting), because now if you lose a player like Maboe and you have a problem when he’s not there, for a team like Kaizer Chiefs, it is unlike it. To have a problem of beating teams like Stellenbosch. It (injuries) exposes them, they must go out and get good quality players,” Makua said.

The former midfielder, known as ‘Disco during his playing career, also questioned the decision to part ways with Thabo Cele. Cele has since been integrated into the Mamelodi Sundowns team.

Makua said Chiefs could now be missing the type of player who might have provided greater depth in midfield.

“We’ll never know what happened behind the scenes, what Thabo did, we need players like Thabo. We don’t have depth but you release such a player,” he said.

He also expressed uncertainty over the criteria being used to identify new signings, while acknowledging that transfer fees could be a factor when clubs negotiate with Kaizer Chiefs.

“In terms of recruiting, I’m not sure what criteria they are using or it’s the issue of when they try to get players teams are charging them a lot of money. But if you want a player, you go all out and get the player, because you are a big team and obviously people expect you to get quality players and play good football.

“But now if you don’t get those quality players, the team is going to suffer and mind you, the team has got a lot of supporters,” Makua added.