Kaizer Chiefs reserve team began their 2021 campaign with a 2-0 loss to archrivals Orlando Pirates in Dobsonville on Saturday afternoon. Boitumelo Radiopane scored both of Pirates’ goals in the second half with the second coming in the final minute of the game. Zwane believes his team were slow out of the blocks and is hoping that they can pick up the pieces and win their next game. With important game time under their belts, Zwane believes it is a step in the right direction and the boys will do better going forward.

Speaking after the game Zwane lamented the fact that his team did not start the game the way they had hoped. “We started very slow and we did not get to second or third gear,” he said.  We were always playing with one pace. Even when we managed to penetrate and break their defence, we were not hungry enough to show that we wanted to score.”

The Chiefs reserve team coach feels his team had done the hard work in creating chances but were not clinical enough to finish them off.

“Even in the first half, we had a few chances,” he confirms. “If our offensive players were a little bit aggressive to get to the final third, we would have easily had a tap in. We did not do enough.  I think because the energy levels were slowing down.”

While the Chiefs reserves started the league last season in top form before it was suspended, Zwane holds the view that not being active for almost a year could be behind the reason why his chargers did not display the same level of enthusiasm that they usually show.

“It could be because we have not been playing just training,” he concluded. “As much as I understand that, but at their age I expect them to show and understand that representing a team of Kaizer Chiefs calibre they have to go out their and fight.

“It was one of those games where we started very slowly. We truly hope that we will be a lot better in our second game.”