With the arrival of in-form Flavio Silva, Kaizer Chiefs now boast a trio
of tall, physical strikers—including Etiosa Ighodaro and Makabi Lilepo—who
excel in the air. This has sparked a debate: should Amakhosi pivot to a
cross-heavy, aerial strategy to maximize their new attacking assets?
The success of a similar approach under Ernst Middendorp in the 2019/20
season, where target man Samir Nurkovic thrived on set-pieces and crosses,
adds weight to the argument. However, former Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson
offers a more nuanced perspective.
While acknowledging the threat his former strikers pose, Johnson shifted the
focus from what to do to how it’s done. He argues that the key isn’t simply
to launch crosses, but to critically examine the service and movement.
“My thinking was always, who brings the ball to the strikers, and how do
they bring the ball to the strikers?” Johnson stated. “That is where their
strength has been in the last few games.”
He pointed out that the current forwards have been receiving good service to
their feet, but emphasized that a complete attacking strategy must
incorporate various methods. “You cannot judge and say, now you’re going to
play crosses, wing-play… Those are parts of the game that must happen all
the time.”
For Johnson, the real analysis lies in the synergy between the passer and
the striker. He stresses the importance of the strikers’ runs and the
midfielders’ awareness. The crucial question is: if a striker drops deep to
receive the ball, who is making the penetrating run into the box to attack a
potential cross?
Citing the 4-1 win over Orbit College where goals came from multiple
sources, Johnson sees evidence of a developing, multi-faceted attack. He
suggests that the team’s progress lies not in forcing a single tactical
approach, but in refining the existing patterns of play and ensuring the
players bringing the ball are effectively linked with the runners in the
box.
