Kaze’s verdict: Is Ighodaro the striker Chiefs have missed?

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze believes the club has finally found the striker profile they desperately needed, following Etiosa Ighodaro’s crucial first goal for the club during Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup victory.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns man opened the scoring at Dobsonville Stadium, setting the tone for the Amakhosi’s 3-1 win over AS Simba in the second preliminary round, second leg tie. Goals from Glody Lilepo and Zitha Kwinika sealed a crucial result, sending the Soweto giants into the group stage of the continent’s second-tier competition.

The match was particularly significant as Chiefs had endured a grim run of three consecutive matches without finding the back of the net, leading to mounting questions about the attacking potency of the club’s forwards. Ighodaro, in just his second appearance since arriving at Naturena in September, not only broke that drought but instantly raised hopes among the faithful.

The Anchor in Attack

Kaze was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old, suggesting his value extends far beyond simply scoring goals.

“I believe that it’s not easy to find that kind of striker,” Kaze told the media. “He is a scorer and a player who can help [the team] in other ways.”

The Burundian coach highlighted Ighodaro’s crucial ability to retain possession and allow the team to reorganise up the field, a trait he admitted Chiefs have lacked.

“Sometimes you are struggling, you are defending deep down, and he is a player who, if there is a rebound or we play forward, he can hold the ball and allow the whole team to come up,” Kaze explained.

“It gives you the energy, and it allows every player to get in his right position going forward. I would say we had missed that a lot because sometimes the ball goes forward and we lose it very quickly, then we have to come back, and it’s like a game of transition. But to have that kind of striker is very helpful.”

Ighodaro’s instant impact will be a welcome sight for Chiefs fans, who have previously seen new signings like Flavio Silva and Khanyisa Mayo score on debut, only for their initial spark to subsequently diminish. The pressure is now on Ighodaro to maintain the high standards and deliver the consistency that Chiefs’ attacking line has been craving.