Expectations are high for newly signed Kaizer Chiefs striker Flavio Silva as they have been facing challenges in securing a striker capable of upholding the legacy established by the likes of Collins Mbesuma and Knowledge Musona to break the ongoing goal drought ahead of the season.
Amakhosi finished in the ninth position last season with 32 points, having scored a mere 25 goals in 28 league matches. This shows how blunt their attackers were when facing the net.
Ashley Du Preez and now departed Ranga Chivaviro netted three goals in 22 league appearances respectively, while Wandile, who looked to be the preferred choice for Nasreddine Nabi before an injury lay off, netted five goals, tied with Makabi Lilepo in being the club’s joint top-scorer despite joining in January.
The last time Chiefs produced a PSL Golden Boot winner was over a decade ago during the 2013/14 season, when Bernard Parker scooped the accolade.
Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic was a promising player during his spell with the club in the 2019/20 season, scoring 12 league goals. However, a battle with injuries hindered his ability to build on that impressive season, ultimately leading to him parting ways with the club at the end of the 2021/22 season.
The 29-year-old was signed from Persebaya, which competes in the Indonesian Super League. He scored nine goals in 33 matches last season and has a record of 56 goals and 18 assists in 194 matches throughout his professional career.
The Portuguese showed signs of struggle during Amakhosi’s preseason friendlies in the Netherlands, but looked promising during his debut against Asante Kotoko on 26 July in the Toyota Cup.
Nabi called for patience as the striker is still adjusting to the club’s set-up and the standard of South African football, following online criticism from football fans comparing him to Jasond González, who left the club after a short spell and without registering a single goal on the scoreboard.
“I was a little bit surprised to hear about those negative comments, but as far as the player has signed for Kaizer Chiefs, it’s our duty to protect him, to work very well and as well to give him time to adapt,” he said to the media.
“And that goes, not only for Flavio, but for anyone’s that are new.
“And as well and I will not speak about specifically him, but we need to put all the new players in the same basket and the young ones as well that came from our DDC team.”
Chiefs kick-started the new Betway Premiership campaign with a commanding 2-0 over Stellenbosch FC on Sunday. DDC graduate Naledi Hlongwane was granted his first start in the senior team and played 57 minutes before he was subbed off for Du Preez.
Assistant coach Khalil Ben Yousef clarified Silva’s absence from the match. “When the new players come back to join us, it will be better, they will give us more solutions, we waiting for them [for work permits], we continue to work,” he said after the match.
Ahead of their second match against Polokwane City, second assistant coach Cedric Kaze provided reasons behind Flavio’s signing.
“It’s a player that trains very well, scores goals in training. People think all strikers need to be like Thierry Henry or Robert Lewandowski, or have skills to dribble, but he’s a different profile, a player in the box,” Kaze said on Tuesday.
“When there’s crosses, you will find him there, when there’s a shot, you will find him there for rebounds, he has tremendous presence in the box and we need players like this,” he concluded.