adminJOHANNESBURG. – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter insists he is not worried about the lack of goals from strikers, including Zimbabwean forward Kingston Nkhatha, despite his forwards having contributed a mere three of the 20 goals that AmaKhosi have scored to date.
Baxter, though, believes that his forwards are feeling the pressure.
Two strikes from Nkhatha and another from Katlego Mphela are the only goals that have been provided by the forward line whose primary role is to lead the attack and provide the goals.
The rest of the Chiefs goals have come from midfielders Reneilwe Letsholonyane (6), Mandla Masango (5), George Maluleka (3), George Lebese (2) and the header that from centre-back Tefu Mashamiate which won AmaKhosi the MTN8 last Saturday.
“No it is not a concern for as long as they are coming from everywhere else,” said Baxter.
“But if they don’t come from everywhere (in the team) then it becomes a concern. I think when Ian Rush was at his best he went for 17 games without scoring for Liverpool but everybody else was saying that he is still doing a great job.
“Now I think as long as our strikers are pressing properly, moving properly, creating space for others, their link play is good, as long as they are a threat physically and technically then I am not too worried.
“As long as they keep getting in and as long as we are scoring goals then I am not worried. If we don’t (get goals) then it is going to be an issue that we have to take up but I am happy that goals are coming from different spaces.”
The Englishman notes that he understands that strikers are naturally always out to score goals but feels they are handling that lack of goals.
“I think strikers are the sort of animals that always want to be scoring goals. If you said to any striker, if we score 50 goals this year and you score four will you be happy, they will obviously say no. If we score 25 and you have scored 15 they will say they are happy. — KickOff.
Online Reporter