Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefe Ntseki has explained why the club’s newly signed striker, Ranga Chivaviro is not yet at his best form after two games of the 2023/2024 season.

The Limpopo born goal-poacher joined the Soweto giants in July after a successful season he had with Marumo Gallants.

Chivaviro scored ten goals in the DStv Premiership, while also clanged the net a further seven times in the CAF Confederation Cup for Gallants last season.

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However, the 30-year-old target-man has struggled to score a single goal in the matches he played so far for Amakhosi. And now some supporters have started to doubt his capabilities.

Nonetheless, coach Ntseki said it would obviously be difficult for his target man to be able to match the intensity that saw him being a wanted man before the start of the new season.

MOLEFI NTSEKI ADRESSES RANGA CHIVAVIRO CONCERN 

Ntseki believes had Chivaviro been able to participate in the pre-season matches, perhaps he would have been equally fit as others even before the season began.

“I think it’s also about recovery, we never had Ranga (Chivaviro) with us in the camp in the pre-season. He just came, he was training on his own,” Ntseki told the media after their 2-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday.

“It was more about his recovery because he played 72 minutes against Chippa (United). So we were fully aware that today he might not be as quick as much and mobile as expected.

“So the plan for us was to keep the centre backs more worried about him, staying between them. And I think he did what needed to be done.

“Unfortunately, for him, he didn’t get a goal. But he’s our quality striker that we have, and we will work on him and when his confidence is good, he will start giving back to the team.”

Chivaviro will be looking to prove himself when Amakhosi battle with Cape Town City at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday in the MTN8 quarter-finals. 

By Clifton Mabasa