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Kaizer Chiefs’ young stars can’t resurrect the club on their own

Kaizer Chiefs’ young stars can’t resurrect the club on their own
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi during the Carling Knockout Cup last-16 match against SuperSport United in Polokwane.Photos: Gallo Images
Yanga Sibembe
By Yanga Sibembe
17 Nov 2024
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Amakhosi will have to recruit quality and experienced players in upcoming transfer windows to ease the burden on their young stars.

Kaizer Chiefs is not just a soccer team, it is also a brand and globally recognised institution. Undoubtedly, being without a trophy for a decade now has affected this reputation in one way or another.

This season, under the guidance of Tunisian tactician Nasreddine Nabi, the Johannesburg-based club has shown glimpses of regaining its aura as the mighty Amakhosi. Over the past few seasons, playing soccer has seemed to be a tedious chore for most of the players in the team.

However, under Nabi, who was appointed ahead of the 2024/25 Premiership campaign, the players have generally shown impetus and a willingness to fight for the legendary gold and black kit of Chiefs.

It’s as if Nabi has drilled it into players that they are following in the footsteps of greats such as Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe, Doctor Khumalo, Neil Tovey, Lucas Radebe and Thabo Mooki.

These names, and many others, are responsible for Amakhosi being one of the most decorated clubs on the African continent. Nabi and his players are charged with restoring this pride.

Some improvement


Despite the overall displays of the team having drastically improved from last season, when it finished a lowly 10th on the league table, the results have been mixed.

In the league, Chiefs sit on two wins, just as many losses and a draw after five games.

This is a clear indication that it’s been a roller coaster start to Nabi’s tenure, regardless of the general positive attitude that has gripped the Soweto side since his arrival.

Chiefs missed out on the first chance of this season’s silverware, the MTN8. The curtain-raising knockout competition is contested by teams that finish in the top eight of the 16-team Premiership. Because of their league placing in 2023/24, they were not eligible and had to watch from the sidelines as bitter rivals Orlando Pirates claimed a third MTN8 trophy on the trot.

They had another opportunity to po­tentially end their barren run via the Carling Knockout Cup. This fell flat after they were hammered 4-0 in the quarterfinals by Mamelodi Sundowns at the beginning of November.

This resounding defeat ensured that Chiefs will head to 2025 trophyless, having last lifted any major silverware in 2015 with Scottish coach Stuart Baxter at the helm.

Cry, the beloved Chiefs


This Knockout loss to Sundowns also brought one of Amakhosi’s exciting youngsters, Mfundo Vilakazi, to tears at the end of the game. These were probably tears of frustration and disappointment from the 18-year-old creative midfielder.

They were also an indication that he felt somewhat responsible for disappointing the tens of thousands of hopeful Chiefs supporters who had flocked to FNB Stadium on the day. More importantly, it showed that the youngster cares.

Vilakazi, as talented as he is, is a victim of circumstance. This is also true for his counterparts Mduduzi Shabalala (20), Rushwin Dortley (22), Wan­­dile Duba (20) and Samkelo Zwane (22).

The situation at Chiefs has seen them thrown into the deep end.

When Nabi ar­­rived, he identified areas that the club needed to improve on. Though Chiefs made a few key signings to that end, they still do not possess enough quality for the coach not to rely heavily on Vilakazi and his fellow youthful colleagues, particularly on the attacking front – an observation that Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi made after his side’s Knockout victory over Amakhosi a few weeks ago. 

Kaizer Chiefs Nabi Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi during their Knockout Cup last-16 match against SuperSport United in Polokwane. (Photo: Gallo Images)


Handle with care


“They are all very good football players but the biggest mistake that you can make with players like those is to put the load of a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs on their shoulders,” Mngqithi told journalists.

“They are all very impressive and I know the coach is probably forced to play them, because they are the best players that they have at the moment.”

Sports psychologist Koketjo Tsebe told Daily Maverick: “The strategy is not to always throw them into the deep end. One can just systematically and gradually introduce them. Especially given these factors [of Chiefs having not won a trophy in a decade].

“So, if it’s not handled well, it can break them. Especially because we also know the role supporters can play in impacting the mental health of footballers [positively or negatively],” Tsebe added.

Coincidentally, Sundowns have a few youthful players too, including 17-year-old Siyabonga Mabena, a highly-rated player who the Tshwane giants have gradually eased into first team soccer without placing too much pressure and expectation on him.

Of course, the circumstances at Chiefs and Sundowns are very different. Sundowns have collected trophies for fun during the period of Chiefs’ drought.

There are also numerous quality players for the technical team to choose from. Hence, they can afford to be gentle with Mabena as he develops.

The same is true at Pirates, who have some exciting youngsters of their own. The prime example is 20-year-old attacker Relebohile Mofokeng, who was gradually eased into the first team about two years ago after impressing in the Diski Challenge.

Now the dribbling wizard is an integral part of the Pirates team and has also broken into the Bafana Bafana fold, just like Chiefs defender Dortley.

Confidence


However, unlike Dortley, who Amakhosi signed from Cape Town Spurs at the start of the season, Mofokeng arrived to a Pirates team that was already carrying some silverware under Spaniard José Riveiro.

Mofokeng also had to wait for his turn before being a regular in the team, with the Bucs brimming with confidence and quality. At Chiefs, if the impressive starter Dortley is not available, the coach does not have too many quality options to fill that void.

“Pressure will always be there. The question is how you regulate it… Some would struggle with burnout because they are overworking to do well. Being a youngster obviously comes with less experience as well,” Tsebe said.

“It’s also important for coaches to have one-on-one conversations. This is something that tends to [be lacking] in our sports. But it’s important to have these reflections, that essential communication which can give an indication of where the player is at,” the sports psychologist added.

For Nabi, whose command of the English language is below average, such con­versations may not be easy to initiate with his players.

In any case, the Tunisian will be hopeful that come the January transfer window, Chiefs can recruit some more quality and experienced players to ease the burden on his youthful talents. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.

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