Following their League success in the 2014/15 campaign, the Glamour Boys underwent a number of changes across both playing and coaching staff, the result of which Motaung feels has hindered his club somewhat in the first half of the current campaign.
“We had some significant changes to the team in 2015,” he is quoted as saying on his club’s official website. “Stuart Baxter indicated that he wanted to leave after the 2014/2015 season, which wasn’t in our plans. However, we had to content with that. It meant that we had to look at a new technical team and a new coach. Coupled with this, we parted ways with players like Mandla Masango, Tefu Mashamaite, Siyabonga Nkosi, Josta Dladla, Katlego Mphela and Matthew Rusike.
“Steve Komphela came in as the new coach and he made a few changes to the team. We also beefed up the squad with several new signings, which was done with an eye on the 2016 African Champions League.
“All these changes meant that we didn’t have the smooth transition we would have liked in the new season. We lost the momentum we had at the end of last season. The transition was also affected by the numerous injuries we had in recent months, including Itumeleng Khune, Erick Mathoho, Daniel Cardoso, Morgan Gould and David Zulu.”
Despite the significant changes within the club, Amakhosi still reached two cup finals and lie fourth in the League standings, with their boss confident of another successful year at Naturena.
“On the other hand, we are still within range of challenging for the league title,” Motaung continued. “We also reached two cup finals. We have to commend Komphela for having achieved this in the five months that he’s in charge of the Amakhosi. It’s unfortunate that we lost both cup finals, but getting to those two finals means that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“With players having recovered from their respective injuries, I feel confident that things will go back to normal and that we will do well in 2016.”
Chiefs begin 2016 with a tough League fixture against joint table-toppers Mamelodi Sundowns next weekend.