COMMENT: Draw against Kaizer Chiefs is proof that Royal AM are a better team without Andile Mpisane

Let’s unpack Andile Mpisane’s performance in Saturday evening’s Betway Premiership game between Royal AM and Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Kaizer Chiefs will be kicking themselves for letting Thwihli Thwahla back into the game having held a comfortable 2-0 lead at half time. The game was there for the taking, and a win would have seen them climb up to fourth in the league.

On the other hand, they can count themselves lucky that the KwaZulu-Natal outfit thought it was a good idea to start Mpisane, son of club owner Shauwn Mkhize, in a key creative role behind the striker.

With Mpisane on the field, Royal AM were toothless. They were essentially playing with 10 men. He added absolutely nothing in attack, and his work rate when the ball was lost was so poor that Chiefs could get away with a lot.

Playing in the number 10 role, it was Mpisane’s job to keep an eye on Chiefs’ Sibongoseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa. He failed to do that. His lack of positional awareness meant that Mthethwa had free reign in midfield, and often found himself in an advanced position, which overwhelmed Royal AM early on.

When Mpisane had the ball, it was easily picked off him, and when Royal AM started attacks, the 23-year-old was nowhere near where he should have been. It was a disaster, and Chiefs will be wondering how they managed just two goals in that first half. They should have scored at least three more.

When Mpisane was withdrawn at the break for Smiso Gumede, Royal AM started to resemble a proper football team. They started to dominate their more illustrious opponents. Mthethwa, having looked so good in the first half, struggled in the second 45 minutes. They pulled a goal back soon after the break, and with the game approaching its end, they delivered the sucker punch in stoppage time and walked away from the game with a precious point.

The problem for John Maduka’s team was evident. Mpisane offered them nothing going forward, and when he was off, they looked like a transformed team. If Mpisane did not start the game, who knows, Royal AM could have walked away with all three points.

So, why do they keep playing him? Surely it can’t be due to the club’s transfer ban handed to them by FIFA. They clearly have enough capable players in their ranks. Coach Maduka needs to put his foot down and demand that he be allowed to select a team that does not feature the club owner’s son because Royal AM can be such a good football team.

IOL Sport

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