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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Doctor Khumalo does not think that the team disgraced itself during the club friendly fixture against Hoffenheim at the FNB Stadium on Friday.
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Khumalo, who took over the reins in coach Stuart Baxter’s absence, said the match was a valuable experience, which he felt would stand the club in good stead as it prepares for the second half of the Premiership season.
"This was a great learning experience for our players," Khumalo told the club’s website.
Chiefs lost the fixture 1-0, thanks in part to what some might view as a superior tactical approach from the Bundesliga club.
However, Khumalo said that Hoffenheim’s tactical approach was merely different and certainly something that would be useful to Chiefs in the long term.
"Hoffenheim’s tactical approach is different from PSL-teams," Khumalo continued.
"You can tell the players about this, but they won’t really realise until they experience it in a game. For example, the Germans allowed us little time on the ball as they squeeze the space on the field wherever the ball is. They also play at a high-intensity, especially in the transition from defence to attack."
Khumalo said it was also worth noting that Chiefs had a somewhat depleted squad during the match against Hoffenheim, as several of their players are currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He added: "We also missed five players who are with Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Tsepo Masilela and Willard Katsanda were not available too.
"I was happy with the balance in the team, despite all these changes. I was only disappointed with how Hoffenheim scored.
“It was a mental factor, a lack of concentration on our side. We learn from that. We lost our first game this season.
“But I am not worried about that. The result didn’t matter so much. We know now what we have to look for."
