DailySun
Co-coach Musa Bilankulu of Golden Arrows stated that his squad was fully prepared for the challenges that Kaizer Chiefs would present, particularly in their heavy reliance on full-backs for attacking support.
Bilankulu observed that players from Chiefs, including Mfundo Vilakazi, Mdu Shabalala, and Wandile Duba, often prefer cutting inside to crossing the ball, which consequently increases the involvement of their full-backs.
In addition, Bilankulu predicted difficulties for Chiefs defenders Njabulo Blom and Bradley Cross (recently acquired from Arrows) in keeping up with the speed of Arrows’ wingers, Siyanda Mthanti and Angelo van Rooi.
Arrows effectively capitalized on these anticipated weaknesses, achieving a 1-0 victory over Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. This win marked Arrows’ first triumph at the venue of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against their rivals from Soweto.
The decisive goal was netted by Gladwin Shitolo, who seized a rebound from Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
This victory represented the first win for co-coaches Bilankulu and Kagiso Dikgacoi since taking over from Mabhuti Khenyeza last month.
“They opted for a four-defender formation, which permitted their full-backs to push forward,” Bilankulu explained tactically post-match.
“Initially, they placed either Mfundo Vilakazi or Wandile Duba wide, along with Shabalala, who are not keen on crossing. This arrangement led to their full-backs moving up, which in turn allowed our wingers opportunities to exploit during transitions from defense to attack.
“This structure suggested that Bradley Cross might struggle one-on-one against Siyanda Mthanti, while Njabulo Blom would have difficulties handling Angelo van Rooi.
“Even after shifting to a three-at-the-back setup, they still displayed structural vulnerabilities. We had to make a tactical decision, knowing they could potentially outmaneuver us in the first half. Nevertheless, we remained ready to take advantage of counterattacks and punish them for their shortcomings.
“By applying pressure, we urged them to reconsider their formation, as teams need to adapt to their opponents despite their established tactics. Yet, we maintained our style of play, forcing them to adjust as needed.
“We anticipated their strategy to crowd the midfield with players like Shabalala and Vilakazi making shorter runs. However, this inadvertently opened spaces behind their lines for us to exploit.
“We recognized that sustaining a high press could leave us vulnerable to counterattacks, requiring us to maintain a high defensive line. If they broke through our press, we had to be ready to cover any gaps. I was confident that Cross wouldn’t handle Mthanti well, and likewise Blom would struggle against van Rooi.
“We identified these vulnerabilities, especially their midfield overload, which left them exposed.”
Responding to Arrows’ tactical approach, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi made changes at halftime. Njabulo Blom was substituted for Reeve Frosler, and Ranga Chivaviro replaced Tebogo Potsane on the left, aiming to strengthen their strategy. However, these adjustments failed to produce the desired effect.
The win lifted Arrows to fifth in the Betway Premiership standings, amassing 18 points from 12 matches. Notably, Arrows had collected 20 points at the same stage last season before embarking on a six-match losing streak.
