Stuart Baxter has admitted the decision to bring in Khama Billiat was a gamble, but feels they could have had a chance to get something in the game
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has admitted the decision to bring in Khama Billiat was a gamble, but feels they could have had a chance to get something in the game had they defended better on the night.
Chiefs were beaten 3-0 by Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly side in the CAF Champions League final in Casablanca on Saturday, July 17. Amakhosi winger Happy Mashiane was sent off just before half-time for a horrible challenge on Ahly's Akram Tawfik. Baxter took off Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and brought on Zimbabwean international Khama Billiat at the start of the second half.
Billiat had been out recovering from injury and had last played a competitive match in April. The former Mamelodi Sundowns star was unable to make an impact during the 45 minutes he was on the pitch.
“I thought we started the game quite well. I thought the players approached the game in the correct way. We tried to press them a little bit higher than we have done before. We tried to get the ball quickly into our front three,” he told the Amakhosi media department after the game.
“They (Al Ahly) had a lot of the ball, but I thought we did quite a good job of defending our box and still being a little bit dangerous. If we had gone in at half-time with a complete team, we could have tweaked a few things. But, as it was, Happy’s red card… you know you are going in and scrambling to decide. It’s a cup final and you can’t go in and play 4-4-1 and only defend. So, we went with a 4-3-2 and bringing on Khama, which was a gamble really because he has not played for so long.
“Having said that, the goals we gave away were poor goals. If we defend properly and normally, then we can extend the time they don’t score and increase the frustration for them and maybe then we get a set play or a counter-attack. But, as it was, we gave away that first goal and then I’ve got to devise a way to bring on people onto the field that can bring us back into the game. But the lands did unbelievably well to get to where we were in the final. Once the disappointment settles, I think they will get the credit that they deserve.
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