Former Chiefs coach questions squad depth after transfer window closes

Sergio Dos Santos says he was surprised Kaizer Chiefs did not make any late additions before the recent transfer window deadline, warning that the club’s current squad may not be strong enough to compete seriously on two fronts.

Amakhosi are already dealing with injuries while contesting domestic football and the CAF Confederation Cup. Dos Santos, a former Kaizer Chiefs coach and midfielder, believes the team lacks the quality and depth required to sustain a challenge in both competitions.

“If you look at the Chiefs team, they are struggling at the moment in South African soccer,” Dos Santos told KICKOFF.

“So, if they are going to struggle in the PSL, how on earth are they going to win the CAF Confederations Cup?”

Continental challenge adds to concerns

Dos Santos accepts that unfamiliarity could make it difficult for some African opponents to prepare specifically for Kaizer Chiefs, but he says that will not remove the broader challenges of playing on the continent.

“African teams might not know how to plan for them, but still, playing in Africa is never easy. It’s always very tough out there.”

The former coach said Chiefs’ performances so far had raised doubts about whether they possessed the required strength for the CAF Confederation Cup.

“Based on the performances we’ve seen from Chiefs so far, it leaves us with the question of [whether] Chiefs are strong enough to perform in Africa.”

He added that their domestic struggles suggested the same weaknesses remained within the squad.

“They are struggling in the league; they are not doing well enough, so we are back to where we started before. Like before, something is lacking in the Kaizer Chiefs team. I just don’t know what it is. At one stage, we thought there were too many young players.”

Dos Santos said the current squad did not appear capable of challenging for honours, making the demands of away matches in Africa even greater.

“But certainly, with the team they have at the moment, they don’t look like they are going to challenge. So, if they struggle to make inroads in South Africa, in the PSL, then surely it will be difficult away from home.”

Chiefs lack rivals’ flexibility

The difference between Chiefs and their leading domestic rivals is particularly clear in the way squads can be managed before important fixtures, according to Dos Santos.

He pointed to Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates as examples of teams with enough players to compete in both the domestic league and the Champions League. Their greater depth allows them to rest several regulars before major matches.

“If you look at Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, they have enough players to compete both in the domestic league and the Champions League. They can afford to rest three to four players before a big game.”

Chiefs, by contrast, do not have the same options when managing their squad, he said.

“If you look at the Chiefs squad, they don’t have enough strength; they seem vulnerable, and therefore, it is very difficult for them to change too much.”