Ekstein: Gustavo Paez was the missing link for Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Hendrick Ekstein has revealed that they have been working more on their finishing as they aim to better their goalscoring record from the first round. 

Amakhosi found the back of the net 18 times in 15 league matches, but Ekstein believes the blame should not only be put on the strikers but all the attacking players as well. 

He feels all their attacking players should step up to the plate and lift off the pressure on the current strikers by assisting in scoring goals.  

Ekstein lauded the acquisition of 26-year-old Gustavo Paez, who will be expected to hit the ground running when the league resumes next week, saying the Venezuelan-born forward is the striker Amakhosi really needed this season.  

"We have been working on our finishing. If you remember very well, the coach said after our last game last year that he needed a striker, I think Paez will help us score goals. We create enough chances, but we are struggling to convert them, but we cannot put the blame solely on the strikers, we as midfielders, we also need to score goals," Ekstein told Goal. 

"I think Gustavo is the striker we really needed. I'm not saying the strikers we have aren't good enough, but the way he plays, I think he will fit in at Chiefs," he said.

The diminutive midfielder is also happy with the return of Camaldine Abraw, who missed the first half of the current campaign through injury. 

He said that the entire team couldn't wait for the Togolese striker to return to action, adding that they missed having a target man in their previous games. 

"I'm happy that Abraw is back. We didn't have the right target man. As you know, we've been using Parker upfront even though he is not a target. His [Abraw] return will definitely help us going forward. As players, we really wanted him to come back into the team," Ekstein concluded.