Katongo to help Clever Boys overcome canny defence

30 July 2014 - 16:01 By MARC STRYDOM
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Christopher Katongo is hoping he will set the PSL alight again with plenty of goals for his new side Bidvest Wits. File photo
Christopher Katongo is hoping he will set the PSL alight again with plenty of goals for his new side Bidvest Wits. File photo

Defences in South Africa have tightened up, Bidvest Wits’’ new striker Chris Katongo has said in defence of Premier Soccer League strikers.

Kaizer Chiefs’’ Bernard Parker was last season’’s Absa Premiership top scorer, edging double figures with a paltry 10 goals.

Katongo, who returned to SA football for relegation-bound Golden Arrows in March, said strikers have to step up to the greater level of organisation in the PSL.

“I see players are improving every day in the PSL,” said the Zambian captain, back from six years playing in Denmark, Germany and China.

“You can see how it’’s difficult for the strikers to get goals. It’’s important for strikers to improve ourselves so we can also move forward.

“Defenders are developing and learning — it’’s modern football and it’’s changing. So you can’’t start laughing at your own strikers.”

Katongo failed to score for Arrows, but the PSL’’s top striker for Jomo Cosmos in 2006-07 with 15 goals believes he still has the ability to bang them in this campaign for last season’’s ambitious third- placed finishers.

“I’’m 32 in August. I still have energy, can run and do the basics,” he said. “It’’s important for a player to have a pre-season, get to know all the players. I’’ve had that and let’’s see what season comes.”

Zambia’’s captain, who lifted the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations trophy for Chipolopolo in Gabon, turned down an offer from Orlando Pirates. At Wits he has found structures and facilities comparable to what he experienced in Europe.

“This is perfect to join a team like this,” he said. “Because I need to play. I don’’t need politics in football. Wits needed players. I think it’’s the right time for me to be here.”

Wits coach Gavin Hunt believes professionally- minded Katongo — the famous destroyer of Bafana Bafana in a 3-1 win for Chipolopolo in a 2007 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cape Town — will gel with Wits.

“Chris is experienced and doesn’’t take long to fit in, and into a different mentality. He’’s got the right mentality for us, and hopefully can score goals.”

Hunt expects to make eight changes from last season’’s 3-1 Nedbank Cup final defeat to Orlando Pirates when the Students kick off their season in Friday night’’s MTN8 quarter-final against Bloemfontein Celtic at Bidvest Stadium.

“Celtic beat us last week in that Charity Cup [1-0], so they’’re a good outfit, well organised and coached,” he said. “We’’re still trying to find our way with the new signings – there will be about eight debuts.”

With signings including strikers Katongo and Henrico Botes, defenders Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi and Kees Kwakman, and midfielders Giorgi Nergadze, Vincent Pule and Toriq Losper, Hunt expects to challenge for silverware.

“If there was one criticism last year, it was I thought we lacked experience,” he said. “We’’ve made good, experienced signings. And also we lacked a bit of versatility. We’’ve got a small squad so we need that, and I know we’’ve got it now.”

The Students coach admitted PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns are the team to stop.

“Sundowns were phenomenal at the end last season to win 10 in a row — but they were 1-0, 1-0, 1- 0, so they did well there.

“They’’ve got a good squad and depth in all areas, so I’’m sure they’’re the ones to catch.”

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