Mabotsa surprised by Chiefs' back-three system as draws pile up

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Isaac Mabotsa says he has never seen the club set up the way Fernando Da Cruz is currently deploying them, after Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw by Golden Arrows in Sunday's Betway Premiership match.

Lebohang Maboe had a first-half penalty saved by Arrows goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa as Chiefs registered their fourth league draw of the season, a tally bettered only by Chippa United and one other side, Thato Basoga reports for Kickoff.

Chiefs are now seven points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, with a game in hand, and six points behind Orlando Pirates having played the same number of matches.

Mabotsa said he was most surprised by Da Cruz's consistent use of three centre-backs, including against weaker opposition, adding that he had never seen the formation used at Chiefs before, even prior to his own playing days there.

He said the team needed to be given time to adjust, though results in the meantime were falling short of expectations, and that a run of draws was ultimately not what Chiefs supporters wanted to see from a side that should be competing with Sundowns and Pirates.

Mabotsa noted that back-three systems remained rare in modern football compared with more familiar shapes such as 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, and suggested the players may simply still be adapting to the new structure. Club football is currently on recess for the FIFA international break.