Baxter questions Chiefs players’ quality after ‘embarrassing’ defeat

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has questioned his players’ quality and decision making after their 4-1 DStv Premiership defeat to Royal AM at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

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Chiefs crumbled and allowed the league’s new and flashy side to dominate and overpower them. While Chiefs had an assured start and could have got a better result had they been more clinical in front of goal.  

“I thought the first 30 minutes of the game we picked up where he had left it against (Mamelodi) Sundowns,” said Baxter after the game. 

“The structure was good, and we created a few chances but we failed to take them. But like in the previous games, we gave away a sloppy goal. We then got into a situation where we had to chase the game a little bit. We had plenty of time so we tried to stay patient but then (Phathutshedzo) Nange got injured and we had to change things and we lost some balance.”

Nange was taken off midway through the first half after he had been injured. He was replaced by Akumu Agay who failed to make any impact or to influence the game in any way.  

“We talked about sharpening some aspects at half time. It was not an overhaul but then we conceded the second goals and we had to chase the game. We changed to a back four and maybe that makes it a little more complicated for the players. 

“In any case the decision making after that, the nervousness, the lack of quality and the naivety in decision making made it really difficult to get back into the game. 

“Even when we got one goal back, we immediately conceded another. The last 10 minutes were quite embarrassing and we need to apologise to our supporters for the manner in which the game finished. What started as a good night turned into a poor one,” said Baxter. 

The mentor will have a few days to work on his team with Chiefs’ next game on on Sunday where they visit another new team, Marumo Gallants in Limpopo.