Khanye questions Maboe decision as Kaizer Chiefs suffer CAF Confederation Cup exit

iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye has questioned why Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz did not start Lebohang Maboe in the defeat by Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, second leg.

Kaizer Chiefs went into Friday’s match in Durban 1-0 down from the first leg in Zambia. Bradley Cross brought them level on aggregate, but Red Arrows won the resulting penalty shootout 3-2.

The result ended Kaizer Chiefs’ involvement in the competition before the group stage, marking the first time in two seasons they have failed to reach it. The defeat also extended their winless run to seven matches in all competitions.

Maboe had missed several games, including the first leg, with an injury. He was introduced as a second-half substitute in Durban and played for 17 minutes before missing a penalty in the shootout.

Khanye said Maboe’s inclusion in the match-day squad suggested he was fit enough to start, particularly ahead of Sibongiseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa.

“I was surprised to see Maboe on the team list. Why didn’t he start him and [opted to] start Mthethwa?” Khanye said on iDiski TV.

“Why only bring him on in the second half? Start him, isn’t he fit? I mean if he’s able to come on in the second half it means he’s also fit enough to start, play him. Last time the coach experimented with Reeve Frosler and the [Thulani] Mabaso kid.”

Khanye also criticised the overall quality of the squad, suggesting that some players did not appear to have enough regular first-team experience.

“You can tell the boy doesn’t play regularly but you could see he hardly lost the ball and played forward passes. I mean Mthethwa, it shows that they have an average squad hence I’m not surprised they are out of the competition,” he added.

The former Kaizer Chiefs player then questioned Da Cruz’s faith in several other members of the team, including Pule Mmodi, Faiz Abrahams and Inacio Miguel.

“The coach believes in the likes of [Pule] Mmodi who I don’t think gives the team anything,” Khanye said.

“I’m very disappointed with certain players like Mthethwa, [Faiz] Abrahams. Honestly, they are players who can’t play, even Mmodi, they are players who can’t play there. Even [Inacio] Miguel, they can’t.”

Khanye’s full analysis of Kaizer Chiefs’ CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, second-leg tie against Red Arrows is available on the official iDiski TV YouTube channel.