Arthur Zwane, coach of the Kaizer Chiefs, has said that he has been sleeping less since his hiring due to the stress of the position.
Five months have passed since Zwane was hired as the Chiefs’ new steward, after the club backed him to restore its winning culture and identity.
But “project rebirth” has not gone according to plan, as the Chiefs have endured a mixed bag of results and performances, frustrating their fans.
They appeared to have rediscovered momentum in recent weeks, winning three consecutive Premiership games and extending their unbeaten streak to eight games. Amakhosi fell 2-1 at home to Chippa United last Saturday and then drew 2-2 with TS Galaxy on Wednesday, proving this to be a false dawn.
Sunday’s away match against AmaZulu in Durban is a must-win for Zwane, who are under enormous pressure due to their recent losses.
“As a coach, you have less time to sleep regardless of whether you win or lose games; it’s your vocation. “You must analyze your squad and your opponents,” stated Zwane.
“As a coach, you must also do self-reflection on the areas in which you have room for improvement. Regardless of the outcome, as a coach you have difficulty sleeping.
“I believe you could question any coach in the PSL, since they recognize that football is a business and that you must win games as well.”
Chiefs will meet AmaZulu in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final. If they win this game, they will be closer to ending their seven-year trophy drought. After playing to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, AmaZulu holds the edge heading into their home game because they scored a critical away goal.
Moreover, several changes have occurred since then. Since he replaced Brandon Truter earlier this month, new AmaZulu coach Romain Folz has been a breath of fresh air for the team.
“I watched them play against the Pirates and last night” (against Maritzburg United). “Their strategy has changed from what it was,” Zwane stated.
“They are currently more threatening because they are utilizing their offensive players more effectively. In their final two games, they also generated numerous scoring opportunities.
“I noticed a significant improvement in their play. We are going to have to tighten up our defense, since we have been allowing goals easily. And we will be working on that.”
Indeed, Amakhosi’s defense has been porous. Keagan Dolly and Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana were largely responsible for the team’s eight-game unbeaten streak.
However, the latter missed their previous game after being ruled out for four weeks with a thigh injury, placing the burden on Dolly’s shoulders.
The Bafana Bafana international produced an excellent free-kick goal to earn Chiefs a vital point on Wednesday, bringing his season total to four goals and one assist across all competitions.
And because Chiefs are desperate to reach the final, they will rely on a revitalized Dolly to get them there.
“Even the world’s greatest athletes can experience a drop in form. “How he recovers and his level of professionalism off the field will also play a role,” Zwane remarked.
“He is among the players who take the sport of football very seriously. Aside from losing his shape, there were no concerns about him. Therefore, he is doing well.”