Cavin Johnson defends Kaizer Chiefs transfer inactivity

Speaking to the media at the Nedbank Cup marathon press conferences at the Premier Soccer League offices in Johannesburg on Thursday, Johnson expanded why there was no transfer activity in Naturena during the recent window. 

In the first half of the season, Amakhosi strikers struggled to find goals and lacked a proven goal scorer, but Johnson reiterated they have a good team with which to finish the season strongly.

"I thought, 'If I was a coach that came into a group of 30-plus [players] and said, you know what, not good enough, we need to strengthen, that means I have not done the work I can with a group of players in making them better," explained Johnson.

"That is the reason why we did not sign anybody in the transfer window. I think what we have at the club is good enough to take them to the end of the season, get them many points, and – we pray to God – get them one trophy."

In the league, Chiefs’ four strikers Ashley Du Preez, Jasond Gonzalez, Ranga Chivaviro, and Christian Saile have only scored six goals between them so far this season. 

But Johnson maintains hope they will hit the right notes in the second round.

"We need to handle those strikers, because they do have some quality strikers – you have Ashley, Ranga, Gonzalez, 'Mshini' [Nkosingiphile Ncobo], [Pule] Mmodi, and Saile, who can all play as strikers," he added.

"Therefore, you've got to work with them constantly – I don't think there's a team that can buy success. Yes, you buy good players who will come in and add to what you have, but you need to work with a lot of things.

"And, in all respect to the strikers, you've got to work more with your midfielders and defenders because they bring the ball to the strikers – they don't just get the ball out of the air, there has to be someone who brings them the ball.

"How they then receive the ball and execute the ball is what we [coaches] get paid for."

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