Patrick Mabedi: Kaizer Chiefs are on the right track

Kaizer Chiefs caretaker coach Patrick Mabedi was impressed by his debutants as they successfully defended their Maize Cup title on Saturday.

Amakhosi overcame a dogged Free State Stars on penalties, subsequently getting their pre-season preparations off to an impressive star.

Despite Chiefs having appointed Giovanni Solinas as their new coach on Friday, Mabedi was entrusted with the coaching duties as Solinas watched on from the stands.

The former Chiefs player opted to give several of his new signings in Khama Billiat, Virgil Vries and Letlhogonolo Mirwa a run, along with Kabelo Mahlasela, who return from a long injury lay-off.

“I saw what I wanted to see (with the new signings) they gave us a good show but as you know Mahlasela has been out for a time and he’s coming but I saw that he was getting tired and I had pull him out but he did play well,” Mabedi told SuperSport TV post-match.

“Khama also did well. It was a good match for them,” Mabedi added.

 “We started very well but I think we lost it towards the end of the first half. In the second half we started again (well) but towards the end again the legs started to tire because of fatigue,” Mabedi said.

“But overall, I think we should win this game in open game [regulation time] we missed a lot of chances, they only got one chance and they punished us. I don’t know if it’s a penalty but it’s one of those things in the game. Overall, I think it was a good practice match,” he continued.

“I’m happy with the objectives we wanted to achieve this is our first competitive friendly you could see the standard is a little bit off the way the players went out [fatigue] but I think we’re in the right way,” Mabedi concluded.