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| Double trouble: Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter |
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| ON THE RIGHT TRACKS: Kaizer Chiefs looked unbeatable two months ago |
Kaizer Chiefs fans, you are not alone. Just like the
reigning champions in Spain and England, South Africa’s mighty AmaKhosi are
left asking: “Where did it all go wrong?”
Uniquely, while FC Barcelona and Manchester United can blame
the loss of their crowns on managerial changes, Kaizer Chiefs retained Stuart
Baxter – the first foreign coach ever to win South Africa’s domestic
championship in his first season – but still failed to reach the double-winning
heights of last season.
Like Barca without Pep (and the late Tito) or United without Fergie, Kaizer
Chiefs have finished out of the running (barring miracles), ending a potless season scratching their heads
while their rivals compete for Champions League and domestic trophies.
Ironically, for the latter part of Saturday’s morale-busting
penalty shoot-out defeat in the Nedbank Cup semi-final at Wits University, we
actually saw a little of the old Chiefs panache.
Gavin Hunt’s men were outplayed for most of the extra-time
period, before Moeneeb Josephs superb opening save in the shoot-out sent them
surging through on penalties.
And just to really rub salt in the wounds, Soweto rivals
Orlando Pirates then saw off Steve Komphela’s unfashionable Maritzburg United 2-1
to reach their FOURTH final of the season on May 17 at the mighty Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
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| DERAILED: The Chiefs express is in trouble |
Suddenly, after a season which has seen the vast AmaKhosi clan laughing at the Buccaneers as they switched coaches and struggled to win their
games in hand, it’s Pirates who look like the more successful club this
season. Four finals is a record not to be sniffed out. The MTN8, Telkom KO and
African Champions League bring rich rewards despite last-hurdle defeats … and
even if they lose all four and go down to Wits in the Nedbank final, rather
four cup finals than NONE.
All of which leaves Stuart Baxter – and the Motaung family –
pulling their collective hair out. Two months ago, Chiefs were nailed on for
the PSL title, unbeaten from November 5 and NEVER beaten at home under their
Wolverhampton-born boss.
And now we come to the crucial question: Where did it all go
wrong? Was it that first ever home defeat against Allan Freese’s Platinum
Stars, who have barely won a game since?
Or how about the trip to DR Congo when, without television
coverage or a single South African football reporter to witness it, they went
down 3-0 to AS Vita as the Champions League train was firmly derailed?
Or perhaps it was Bernard Parker’s ankle. He’s played with
strapping since early in the year – but the PSL’s top goal-scorer (with a
measly 10) has failed to add to his tally since February despite starting
throughout the run-in.
But no, in essence, it was none of these things. The real
damage was done by the injury to another ankle. When Knowledge Musona began to
struggle, so did Chiefs. Musona, still haggling with Bundesliga club Hoffenheim
over his loan deal at Naturena, scored the Champions League hat-trick in
Mozambique, he produced the goals which kept the four-month unbeaten streak
going, and in truth (with 15 goals in all competitions) he was always the
Chiefs spearhead.
And just as we joked about “Knowledge is power” and “a
little bit of Knowledge is a dangerous thing” so we found that, without
Knowledge Chiefs couldn’t overcome the Clever Boys when it mattered.
Baxter tried manfully to manage the grinding disappointment
of semi-final failure. He said: “Penalties it is what it is; it is a very, very
fine line. I must just say congratulations to Gavin Hunt and his boys and I
wish them all the best in the final.”
But he was unable to summon the tears which accompanied
Pitso Mosimane’s post-match display when champions-elect crashed out of the
Nedbank Cup.
He tried to explain the pressure, the drain of the African
Champions League: “We have done what we can in very trying circumstances and
no-one has complained. We’ve gone on with it. I don’t know if anyone reflects
on it, but those last 15 minutes today were more than I could have asked for.
“And going to extra-time is not what you want. If anybody
says these players have let anybody down, they don't know anything about
football.”
It’s strong stuff that, from a man who questioned his role
at a club where the fans were booing Kingston Nkhatha even when Chiefs were top
of the League.
Of course, things could yet turn around for Kaizer Chiefs (and Barcelona) with SuperSport United coach Cavin Johnson insisting his side will give their all against Masandawana tomorrow night. But it's highly unlikely.
Predictably, in the darker realms of the social networks,
there are those calling for “Baxter out” just as Manchester United and
Barcelona supporters reacted to their disappointments this season.
But that would be a mistake. Baxter can recover from this
slump, this shocking failure (barring a miracle) to defend the trophies he won
last year. But to do that, he’ll need a little bit more Knowledge.
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