No goals, no glory: Why Kaizer Chiefs must sign a proven striker now
Chiefs need goals Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is about to begin his second season in charge of the club and will be desperate for a prolific striker who can score goals. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Kaizer Chiefs are putting in the final preparations ahead of the new season, but it’s difficult to see how the club will improve unless they address the striker position by signing a proven goalscorer.
Chiefs’ problems up front were well documented last season. Amakhosi often dominated games and created more goalscoring chances than their opponents. But, without a clinical finisher up front, those chances created often went abegging.
It was an issue head coach Nasreddine Nabi repeatedly raised after one frustrating performance after another.
In this transfer window, the club have sought to address that problem by signing Guinea-Bissau-born Portuguese striker Flavio Silva. The 29-year-old has had a journeyman career that’s taken him all over the world, playing in countries like Portugal, Indonesia, Luxembourg, and the United States.
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While his goalscoring record did not set the world alight, he did put up impressive numbers during his time in Indonesia, where he found the back of the net 39 times in 78 games. Decent, but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that form in a tougher league like the Betway Premiership.
One man whose name has been mentioned in recent weeks is Peter Shalulile. According to reports, the Mamelodi Sundowns striker is open to exploring his options despite being contracted with the Tshwane giants for two more years.
Since moving to Sundowns from Highlands Park in 2020, the Namibian hitman has proven time and time again that he knows his way to the net. His best tally was 23 goals during the 2021/22 campaign.
In his five seasons with the Brazilians so far, he’s scored 65 goals in the league. In all competitions, and if you add the goals he scored for Highlands Park, that number is well over 100. Shalulile knows how to score goals.
If a player with such numbers wants to leave, Chiefs should be one of the first clubs to inquire about his services.
Chiefs should know what a prolific striker can do for one’s league campaign. If you cast your mind back to the 2004/05 season, when they pipped Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates to the title thanks to the exploits of one Collins Mbesuma.
The Zambian great, who was just 21 at the time, scored an amazing 25 league goals, which remains a record to this day.
A signing of that calibre could be the difference between another year of frustration and a genuine title challenge. With the right investment up front, Chiefs could finally begin turning dominance into results and restore their status as a feared force in South African football.
The blueprint for success is there – now it’s up to the club to act decisively and bring in the firepower that can reignite the faithful supporters’ dreams.
IOL Sport
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