Chiefs coach on ‘lessons, mistakes’: I can’t blame the players!
Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has acknowledged he has made mistakes during a season that’s been an emotional rollercoaster. Arthur Zwane, coach of Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix Zwane’s first full season at the helm of Chiefs has certainly had its ups and downs, with several injuries and suspensions throughout the campaign certainly not helping the […]
Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has acknowledged he has made mistakes during a season that’s been an emotional rollercoaster.
Arthur Zwane, coach of Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Zwane’s first full season at the helm of Chiefs has certainly had its ups and downs, with several injuries and suspensions throughout the campaign certainly not helping the team cause.
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However, there will be a real sense of redemption if Zwane can lead Amakhosi all the way to the Nedbank Cup title, with this Saturday’s semi-final against Pirates offering up an opportunity for a season-defining victory.
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On the eve of the Soweto derby, the Chiefs coach reflected on the rollercoaster season to date.
“I’ve learned a lot to be quite honest, so much has happened in terms on injuries and inconsistencies, and missed chances, it’s part of the game, it’s the nature of football,” Zwane said, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“I can’t blame the players because I was once a player who made mistakes, like you said, I’ve made mistakes as a coach this season because it’s part of the game, it’s part of learning.
“We have moved on from the past mistakes, we felt at one point we rectified the issues but we’ve still [succumbed] to those costly errors – so the best thing we can do is to focus on the next game, forget about the past, it won’t help us now.”
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CHIEFS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A BLOCKBUSTER WIN
Zwane is still in with a good chance of becoming the first coach to guide Amakhosi to a major trophy in seven years, although Saturday, he will be without inspirational captain, Keagan Dolly, who is out for the remainder of the season.
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Several other players such as Khama Billiat also remain on the sidelines.
“We miss all the players that have been out, not only Keagan, more especially when we are looking for chemistry,” Zwane commented. “Unfortunately, we had a lot of injuries to key players, as well as suspensions and unforeseen circumstances beyond our control and we had to chop and change the team. It has been the most difficult season I’ve had since I have been here because of all that.
“We can’t dwell on that, though. We have to try to come up with a solution, a new plan to make sure we accommodate everyone because we also have other players who haven’t been playing regularly. So, you have seen we have given the opportunity to Happy Mashiane to play; and KG (Kgaogelo Sekgota) as well, to bring back their confidence.
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“Though we lost to Swallows, the guys applied themselves well. In the game before, I think we showed a lot of character against Chippa. I just hope the guys will show the same character, discipline and tactical endurance against Orlando Pirates,” he added.
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THE FIXTURES TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS WEEKEND:
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