Solinas' problems pile up

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola

The clock is certainly ticking for the Kaizer Chiefs mentor, Giovanni Solinas, at Naturena. 

Solinas is yet to taste a league victory as the Amakhosi coach. The first piece of silverware has eluded him already- after being dumped out of- the MTN8 by Supersport United on Saturday night.

It will be hard to convince the hard to please Chiefs fans that he is the right man for the job. The Italian is still new at Kaizer Chiefs but with a club of Chiefs stature there is no time to build. You have to hit the ground running.

His predecessor- Steve Komphela's-dismissal was solely based on results and not performance. As the cynical adage has it: the more things change- the more they remain the same. Chiefs club manager; Bobby 'Bobsteak' Motaung, promised to make wholesale changes at Naturena but it seems like Solinas is working through Komphela's blueprint.

Bobby Motaung has signed quality players this season compared to previous seasons. Komphela had to work with players whom fitted the 'Chiefs way' but not the ones he would have preferred for his philosophy. Is Solinas the right man? I can hear you whispering this question.  NO he is not.

His tactics have backfired in most occasions than they have worked. He gave away a healthy two goals lead- oh yes- against Komphela's Bloemfontein Celtic. Komphela was not a messiah at Chiefs and he had his flops.

Solinas is new at Chiefs but not in South Africa. He had two spells with Free State Stars before. Meaning he is familiar with South African football culture. He never finished a season coaching Ea lla koto in those two stints though.

Solinas seems to have ready made quotes for his blunders. In his response to Leonardo Castro's critics against Celtic- Solinas stated that- anchors Willard Katsande and Wiseman Meyiwa are too similar.

But he featured both in the next game. A cup game against Supersport United. In this game- Chiefs had a caution- of two away goals. But he also lost the game because he defended his two goals instead of going for a kill.

His stuttering start to the season opened old wounds. 

Komphela failed to win any piece of silverware in his three year stay at Naturena. Chiefs faithfuls are not ready to succumbed into the same blunt trauma that Komphela caused them in the previous three seasons.

Solinas team is playing good football but the results are not forthcoming. When there are no results- even the brand of footbal that is appealing to the eye- is not good enough. 

Solinas' predecessor said something along the lines: Nothing is wrong at Kaizer Chiefs but something is absolutely not right.

The Italian job is not working at Naturena.

@Lamola_Herold