Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane was full of praise for his central defensive pairing of Siyabonga Ngezana and Edmilson Dove after last weekend’s win.
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Zwane’s men registered their first DStv Premiership win of the year by beating Royal AM 2-0 in Polokwane.
Prior to this match, Amakhosi had conceded six goals in three matches in all of which they lost and this required a change.
Zwane returns Ngezana returns to the starting team, taking the place of Zitha Kwinika. Kwinika has been unlucky with mistakes in the past few games.
Ngezana was paired with Dove and he did well to stop the Royal AM attack.
Zwane was full of praise for the pair after the game, saying they inspired confidence in the midfielder to attack more and not worry about the back door.
“I have to give credit to our defence… the central pair of Dove and Siya (Ngezana) did well,” Zwane said after the game in Polokwane.
They inspire confidence
“In terms of organization and making sure there is no room at the back, he can control the space up front and at the back.
“It also gives confidence to the midfielders that if the ball is not passed, they know that they will win the one-on-one battle,” added Zwane.
Mentors Amakhosi may have to reshuffle their defense again with reliable right-backs Reeve Frosler and Dillon Solomons out injured.
Frosler was forced off just five minutes into the game after an unfortunate collusion with Ngezana.
He was later seen in the stands with an ice block on his chin, suggesting that he may have broken it in the incident.
Solomons was also stretched in the final stages of the game and Zwane suspected he dislocated his shoulder.
“The worrying factor of this match is the loss of two key players at right back,” said Zwane.
“I’m not sure what happened to Frosler but maybe his cheek is broken. Solomons, I think he has a shoulder dislocation,” explained Zwane.
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Chiefs have a testing game against TS Galaxy on Saturday – they will be high on confidence after their 4-0 defeat of Golden Arrows last week.
Both sides have an interesting history and meet at the Mbombela Stadium.