No clear playing philosophy or identity, no big-name stars and players who don’t respect the brand — these are some of the issues Jabu Mahlangu has identified as bedeviling Kaizer Chiefs.
The struggles and trophy drought of Amakhosi over the past eight years are well documented and Mahlangu, who is one of the last superstars to be produced at Naturena, says it hurts to see the club in the state it is.
Amakhosi have blown hot and cold so far this season and have already made one coaching change, with interim coach Cavin Johnson taking over from Molefi Ntseki. Chiefs sit on the 10th spot in the DStv Premiership with 14 points from 12 matches that includes four wins, two draws and six losses.
Chiefs’ realistic opportunity of winning silverware in the 2023-24 campaign is in the Nedbank Cup as they are outsiders to win the Premiership, where champions Sundowns have already established a strong lead.
Asked to reflect on the challenges of his former club, Mahlangu said he has stopped watching the club that made him a star.
“I am hurt, actually I stopped watching the team for a few years because of the hurt. The question that we must ask ourselves is do they (players) really have passion, do they take their jobs seriously, do they respect the brand, do they respect the fans who are an important part for any football club,” Mahlangu said this week as former players honoured the club’s chairman Kaizer Motaung after his induction into South Africa’s Sports Hall of Fame last week.
In his diagnosis, Mahlangu said players and coaches are not aligned to the philosophy and values of the club.
“It is also important to understand that even though you have been signed as a player, how do you fit into the culture and vision of the club...? During interviews of coaches, do they allow the coach to bring his own philosophy or do they tell them to follow what the club stands for?
“Do they tell the coach that you have to complement our identity and our culture to make sure that Chiefs have winning players? For the past few years, Chiefs have not had a player like Nelson ‘Teenage’ Dladla, Thabo Mooki, Jabu Mahlangu or the late Scara Ngobese — someone who would say now I am no longer listening to the coach and the coach will know that when this player is like this I am not telling him anything because he will do something positive for the team.
“We lack those things but overall they still have good players, it’s just that they arrived with the team under a lot of pressure. Unfortunately there is no time to wait at Chiefs.
“They made good signings to make a balanced team, but they need to get someone who is going to understand the strengths of every player and make them work as a team.”
During interviews of coaches, do they allow the coach to bring his own philosophy or do they tell them to follow what the club stands for?
— Jabu Mahlangu
Chiefs are 10 points behind log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, and Mahlangu said it will be difficult for them to win the league.
“I always say I hope they can just steal one trophy and they can come with something in the Nedbank Cup. It doesn’t matter how they win it, they must just do it to make the fans happy.
“Winning a trophy will also boost their confidence to say we have won something even though we are not at the level we want to be in terms of play and the way we want to apply ourselves.
“If we are realistic, I don’t think they can compete for the league, unless a miracle happens during the middle of the season. But they can sneak in the Nedbank Cup.”
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