Jimmy Tau on Chiefs, Pirates & Soweto Derby

27 February 2020, by: Leonard Solms

What Jimmy Tau says about Chiefs, Pirates & Soweto Derby

Former Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs captain and current  brand ambassador Jimmy Tau has had his say on the Soweto derby, Orlando Pirates’ resurgence, and the title race.

Although he was reluctant to put his head on the block with regards to predictions for Saturday’s game at FNB Stadium, Tau offered plenty of insight into how he expects the match and the rest of the season to shape up.

He also discussed the debate over whether Daniel Akpeyi or Itumeleng Khune should be Chiefs’ number one goalkeeper.

Below is what he said in an interview with BET Central’s Leonard Solms.When you look at the arrival of Coach Zinnbauer, he has got in a new sense of belief and energy in the team. He’s come in and excited everybody. The players are showing a lot of confidence, hard work and determination compared to how they started the season.

Tactically, it is more about how they play quicker going forward. They don’t rely a lot on the build-up; they play a lot on the front foot. That has put a lot of teams under pressure.It was slow, a slow build-up. They would keep possession for the sake of keeping possession. They would pass it backwards and across. Now, if you look at their game it’s about the pace, it’s about getting the ball, thinking forward, running forward, passing forward. They’ve always been a team that keeps possession. Now, it’s about how efficient their play has become.I don’t think they are really struggling. It is just a case of teams having figured them out. Now, they are going through a phase. That phase comes in at a crucial time, because they were going on a win streak, although they were not really playing at their best.

Now, the pressure of the league, the gap being closed down, having been knocked out of a cup… Pirates have started to pick up points — they’re on a good run. It’s heading towards the derby. You will always have Chiefs being put under pressure.

When you look at where they are, I think by focusing too much on other people’s opinions and how they view how Chiefs are currently performing.Look, I think it’s unnecessary… Akpeyi has done well in the absence of Khune and he’s been the club’s number one. He had a bad performance against Maritzburg when they lost 2-1. Now, because Khune is on the bench, that is automatically going to put him under pressure, because Khune is a fan favourite and he’s the club captain. When the team loses the way they did against Maritzburg, it is pretty much obvious that they would want to revert back to their trusted goalkeeper who they all adore.

It will take a really strong coach to take a hold of this one. Once it gets out of hand, you lose the dressing room and the discipline in the camp.Yes, when I was at Chiefs, we had the same situation with the late Scara Ngobese. He was the fan favourite, and when he wasn’t in the team, there were people complaining. When I was at Pirates, it was the same with Steve Lekoelea.

It’s difficult to have those players on the bench where the fans actually want to see them on the field of play. It goes back to how you manage the team, personalities and egos and make sure that everyone plays from the team.Look, he’s an experienced coach, but he’s going to rely on the club, the players, and the fans to rally behind him. Once he feels isolated, it’s obviously going to have its own pressure on him.

I think it’s a test of character now for everyone who believes in the club — the supporters, the management and the coach — to make sure that the players also bring their part. At the end of the day, it also boils down to players playing their part.Look, I think it’s very much a difficult point in time… Chiefs have got it in their hands to lose it. Pirates have so much to play for because they are also out of all the cup competitions. The only good run that they can give is in the league. Whether or not they win it on points, I still think they would want to finish in a high.

Sundowns are still in the picture. Bidvest Wits are a bit inconsistent, but they are in there. The next four games are going to be crucial for all the teams chasing league honours. Chiefs still have to play Pirates, they have to play Sundowns, they have to play Wits twice.The way Pirates are playing, they pose a serious threat to Chiefs. At the same time, this is an opportunity for Chiefs to bounce back. A draw for Chiefs against Pirates wouldn’t be a bad result, although it would bring Sundowns much closer to the picture. A draw would be a loss for Pirates who are trying to catch up and close the gap. When I look at it, I think it’s not do-or-die for Chiefs. It’s a game they have to manage.Not necessarily defensive, but it’s going to be one of those tactical games… Once Chiefs decide to defend, if they’re going to do that for 90 or 95 minutes, it’s very taxing mentally. Physically, it’s going to take a toll. Once you decide to attack, then you put your opponents under pressure. Defending would be the last, last resort for me.

MORE SOCCER