Manqele set for Chiefs stay?
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela suggested transfer-listed striker Edward Manqele could be thrown a lifeline in the upcoming season.
|||It appears there is plenty of room for second chances at Naturena after Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela suggested transfer-listed striker Edward Manqele could be thrown a lifeline in the upcoming season.
Komphela, who watched his side beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the pre-season Carling Black Label Cup at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday, was responding to a question as to whether he thought the club’s newly-acquired strike force has enough firepower to help Chiefs avoid their unwanted record of last season where they had 13 draws in their 30 Absa Premiership matches.
The coach singled out Manqele when pointing out that he had seven other forwards (excluding Camaldine Abraw, who is expected to be out injured for at least six months) to pick from in his search for goals. Manqele arrived last season, but failed to live up to expectations as he struggled with injuries and form. This led to his contribution being limited to just a single goal in 17 games from all domestic competitions. He is currently on the club’s transfer list along with Siyanda Xulu, Siphelele Mthembu, Sula Matovu and Ivan Bukenya, but he may have just convinced the coach to allow him to stay on. In his breakthrough season - the 2011/12 campaign - Manqele was able to score 11 goals in 28 league matches for Free State Stars, where Komphela was coach.
So, they have a bit of history together.
“We are going to play one leading striker. This means we must choose one, and whoever we pick on the day needs to give us something,” said Komphela. “Jabu (Manqele) has been working very hard and he looks ready to go. It is not that we are spoilt for choice, but we feel anyone we throw in must give us a goal and make us happy. It will also depend on who is on form as well as the rank and file of the player.”
Lewis Macha, one of the strikers recruited by Chiefs last month, came off the bench to score with a well-taken header on debut and add to defender Eric Mathoho’s opener in the win against Pirates at the weekend. But Komphela, who could not win a trophy in his first year in charge of the Glamour Boys despite reaching the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout cup finals, warned the fans not to get too excited even though they were deserving winners over their bitter rivals.
“It is still very early,” the coach said. “The reason we were so sharp is because we started our pre-season very early because we finished last season poorly (Amakhosi surrendered the league title to Mamelodi Sundowns and were in fifth place on the league table). We worked on fitness and endurance, but there are plenty of other aspects we haven’t yet addressed, like our speed. It is important to have confidence and belief, which I hope winning this game has given the players.”
Chiefs open their Premier League campaign on August 23. - The Star
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