Kaizer Chiefs are beginning to lose their grip on the Betway Premiership title race following yet another draw.
Amakhosi went into their clash against Golden Arrows in Mbombela knowing that nothing less than a victory would do if they wanted to keep pace with Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table.
Instead, another poor execution in front of goal saw Chiefs drop points once again. The result leaves them seven points behind the league leaders and with plenty of questions to answer during the upcoming FIFA international break.
Fernando Da Cruz will now have time to reassess his squad and work on the problems that have prevented Chiefs from turning promising performances into victories.
Kaizer Chiefs struggling in Betway Premiership
The biggest concern for Chiefs is their inability to consistently win football matches.
After seven games, Amakhosi have won just three times while drawing four. That means they have dropped points in more than half of their league matches.
While Chiefs continue to struggle for consistency, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are picking up victories and creating separation at the top of the table.
The gap is beginning to suggest that the title race could develop into a two-horse battle, leaving Chiefs fighting for third place once again.
That would be a disappointing outcome for a club that started the season with ambitions of challenging for the championship.
Last season, Chiefs finished third in the Betway Premiership and secured qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup. However, their current form suggests that improving on that position will be difficult unless there is a significant change after the international break.
One of the positives for Da Cruz has been the defensive structure of his team.Amakhosi have generally looked organised without the ball, but their biggest weakness has been at the other end of the pitch.
They are struggling to consistently create and convert chances, and that has made dropped points almost inevitable whenever their defence fails to produce a clean sheet.
Kaizer Chiefs fourth in the Betway Premiership
With Brandon Petersen injured, former Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner was given an opportunity against Arrows and responded with a clean sheet.
Da Cruz could now consider keeping Leaner in goal when domestic football resumes. That decision could raise a few eyebrows given Petersen’s status, but the competition for the position may ultimately benefit Chiefs.
Petersen had also made several costly mistakes before his injury, so Da Cruz has a decision to make once he returns.
Chiefs made six signings during the transfer window, but the early evidence suggests the recruitment may not have been enough to transform them into genuine title contenders.
The issue is not necessarily one individual player. It is the overall balance of the squad.
Chiefs have lacked quality in key moments, consistency across matches and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to manage games when they have an opportunity to take control.
Those are qualities required to win a league title. For them to get back into the Betway Premiership, Kaizer Chiefs need to go on a run of six or seven straight wins.
Dropping points against teams they should be beating will ultimately hurt Amakhosi more than losing against direct title rivals. Champions find ways to win those difficult, scrappy matches.
The international break therefore arrives at an important time for Da Cruz.
He needs to find solutions quickly because, with Sundowns and Pirates continuing to collect points, Chiefs cannot afford to keep waiting for their season to turn around.
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