Kaizer Chiefs Questioned Over Pule Mmodi’s Role and Positioning

Kaizer Chiefs are facing growing scrutiny over how they are using Pule Mmodi in their current setup. The winger, who joined Amakhosi from Golden Arrows, has been deployed mostly out wide, but many believe the team is not getting the best out of him in that role.

At his previous clubs, including Golden Arrows, Uthongathi, Mangaung United, and Free State Stars’ reserve team, Mmodi played primarily as a number 10. In that position, he thrived by linking play, scoring goals, and creating chances behind the striker.

David Vilakazi, who coached Mmodi in the Free State Stars feeder system, has voiced his concern about how Chiefs are using the player. He believes the club’s tactical decisions are limiting Mmodi’s impact.

“As a winger, he is not giving them what they want because he doesn’t have crosses in him,” Vilakazi told KickOff.com. “He doesn’t deliver crosses with his left. At the top level, goals come from crosses, but maybe that is not how the Chiefs coaches want to play.”

Vilakazi highlighted that Mmodi’s strengths lie in his attacking instincts and ability to operate close to goal, not as a traditional wide player.

“At Arrows, he excelled as a number 10 because he scores goals, assists, and knows how to break the lines when playing closer to the number nine,” he said. “I prefer him as a 10. Out on the left, he can take players on, but he can’t cross the ball.”

He added that the Chiefs technical team might be using Mmodi to cut inside rather than deliver balls into the box, but questioned the long-term value of that approach.

“The way they play him is that they want him to cut in from the left, but I’m not sure what return they will get from him playing him that way,” Vilakazi said. “I don’t know why they are playing him on the left when he doesn’t have a left foot for crosses. I have never seen him cross with his left foot.”

Vilakazi believes Chiefs would get more productivity if they allowed Mmodi to operate centrally.

“If they can play him as a number 10, then they will get great results out of him,” he said. “He can go forward and make key plays, but crossing from the left is not part of his game.”

Despite the criticism, Vilakazi acknowledged that the Chiefs coaching staff might have a different tactical vision.

“This is just my opinion,” he said. “I don’t work with him every day at training. Maybe they want a winger who takes players on and cuts inside instead of providing crosses.”

Mmodi, who hails from Theunissen in the Free State, has yet to score for Chiefs this season. His current form has sparked debate among fans and analysts about whether the club is using him effectively.

The 32-year-old remains one of the more experienced players in the squad, but unless Chiefs adjust his role to suit his natural game, questions will continue about whether the team is maximizing his potential.