Former Orlando Pirates left-back Innocent Chikoya has pointed out that Kaizer Chiefs currently lack strength in depth. He made the comments after Saturday’s Soweto Derby, where the Amakhosi went down 2-1 to their bitter rivals.

Chiefs took the early advantage in the match at Orlando Amstel Arena. However, they could not hold on as the game split into two clear halves. The Glamour Boys looked sharp in the opening period but offered little after the break. Pirates turned the contest around and claimed the points.

Chikoya told KickOff that the starting eleven at Chiefs can still compete with the best sides in the league. The problem, he says, comes when the game goes the full 90 minutes. At the moment, the club simply does not have enough experienced players on the bench to keep the pressure up or change the pattern of play.

“Kaizer Chiefs are not in the same category as Orlando Pirates at present,” Chikoya said. “The dynamics at Pirates at the moment are formidable. This Pirates side reminds me of the team from the Brandon Silent and Helman Mkhalele era. Chiefs caused problems in the first half, but there was little from them in the second. They do not have enough depth on the bench.”

He added that the second half showed the gap clearly. “In the second half, Chiefs needed a player who could provide a Plan B. They did not cope, and they did not have a second option.”

The situation has been made harder by long-term injuries to two major signings. Langelihle Phili and Khanyisa Mayo remain sidelined, leaving coach Fernando Da Cruz with fewer options when the starting players tire or the plan stops working. The way the two coaches used their substitutes on Saturday only underlined the difference between the squads.

For Chiefs fans, the comments will feel familiar. The club has often relied on a strong first eleven, but big matches against the top sides demand more than that. Without a deeper bench, Amakhosi struggle to recover once the game moves against them. The Soweto Derby result has once again highlighted that the gap is not only about the starting line-up, but about the players waiting to come on when the match requires a fresh approach.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2119339991327277273?a=eQHlce-TVB9Yc2YHMXQ&s=19