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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has revealed that new signing Siyanda Xulu has expressed his concerns over not having a regular partner in defence.
Komphela has been forced to chop and change his back four since taking up the reins at Naturena, with the likes of Morgan Gould and Eric Mathoho still working their way back to full fitness in pre-season.
Xulu has been one of the ever-present players in the squad this term as Chiefs conceded three goals against Maritzburg in the MTN8 before being held to a goalless draw by Chippa United on the opening day of the Premiership season.
While the centre-back has expressed his concerns over the current state of affairs, Komphela is adamant the current centre-back pairing of Xulu and Mathoho will not change for the time being.
"Xulu had been changing partners and at some stage he came to me and (assistant coach) Doc (Khumalo) and said 'gentlemen, I have been changing partners like I don't know what, playing with this one and that one'. Maybe when there's consistency it gets better," Komphela was quoted as saying by Sowetan Live.
"Sometimes you don't have a choice but to stick with what you have and for now, Xulu and Eric Mathoho are doing a job for us.
"In our team-talk we also made mention of the importance of the central pairing. I remember during pre-season we had Xulu and Lorenzo Gordinho because Morgan Gould, Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso were all out.
"These guys are no machines. Any player who comes back from a lengthy lay-off shows in (lacking) match fitness."
