Sheppard confident Kaizer Chiefs can recover after fourth league draw

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard believes his side can still turn their early-season opportunities into results after they were held to a goalless draw by Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

The result was Chiefs’ fourth draw in seven league matches, although they remain unbeaten. They have won three games and drawn four, leaving them seven points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one match more.

Chiefs had the clearest opportunity to break the deadlock when midfielder Lebohang Maboe’s late first-half penalty was saved by Golden Arrows goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa.

Sheppard said the team’s main problem was finishing rather than creating chances.

“Our creativity has been good, it’s just a matter of tucking our chances away. The good thing is that we are creating chances and we just have to carry on with that,” he said after the match.

The assistant coach felt Chiefs had done enough to claim all three points, while accepting that Arrows also had chances, particularly in the closing stages.

“They [Arrows] had a few chances, especially towards the end. I think it’s a fair result, but I think we deserved to win if you look at the chances we created,” Sheppard said.

Injury concern for Maboe

Maboe’s afternoon ended early in the second half when he was carried from the pitch on a stretcher. The midfielder is part of the Bafana Bafana squad for the two upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

Those matches will be played on Sunday and next Wednesday, at home and away respectively, leaving Chiefs waiting for an update on the player’s fitness.

“Obviously the doctor will examine him [Maboe]. For Lebo to go down means he was in pain, but hopefully it’s just a slight ankle sprain and he will be ready for national duty,” Sheppard said.

There was more encouraging news for Chiefs in goal, where Renaldo Leaner made his club debut in place of injured first-choice goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.

Leaner kept a clean sheet and produced several important saves, earning praise from Sheppard for his performance and his organisation of the defence.

“He was very good. His leadership at the back was evident and he made a couple of great saves. That’s why you have a squad; when one player gets injured the next one steps up. I am very happy for him… he’s come in with a lot of confidence and kept a clean sheet. It’s very good for him,” said Sheppard.