I had the pleasure of an audience with Lucky Stylianou on the Power Sport Extra with BBK radio sports show to chew cud over his beloved and beleaguered Kaizer Chiefs.
The reason Stylianou was chosen for this conversation was informed by the rowdy reaction that followed Amakhosi’s loss to Richards Bay FC two Sundays ago before the international break.
Stepping into the King Zwelithini Stadium to take on the Natal Rich Boyz, the expectation was for Chiefs to return to winning ways and recover from the disappointment of a goalless draw against out of sorts Cape Town City, a result that put brakes to the prospect of bagging a third consecutive victory in all competitions for the first time in the 2024-25 campaign.
When Chiefs came unstuck in Umlazi, the consternation against their blowing hot and cold grew. Loyalists drummed up their outrage at never knowing which Chiefs is going to pitch.
Their inconsistency is the reason Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos remains convinced that none of the Chiefs players are worthy of cracking selection into his squad [until recently, Rushwin Dortley was the exception].
The conversation that followed centred around coach Nasreddine Nabi: whether he was the messiah for whom they’d waited for many moons.
Spike in levels of intolerance
The angst among the army of Amakhosi faithful has been reinforced by a consistent inconsistency that is spiking levels of intolerance.
While they have enhanced their ability to create chances, the problem of converting persists unabated.
The product of ineptitude is dropping points at an alarming rate, a dubious distinction that has made Chiefs a permanent fixture in mid table.
As a result of failing to scale up the log standings, the Chiefs faithful are forced to see their side play second fiddle to the likes of Stellenbosch FC, Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City.
That trio’s level of competitiveness has, in the previous couple of seasons, seen them contest for the third position, which provides passage to continental competition as it secures a spot in the Caf Confederation Cup.
As things stand, MTN8 losing finalists Stellenbosch will play the quarterfinal first leg against Zamalek on April 2 as they chase continental glory.
For their part, Chiefs’ last hope of banishing a decade-long silverware drought is in the Nedbank Cup, where they will face Sekhukhune or Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals.
On the league front, they will be pushing to finish within the top eight.
That push resumes when they get back to Betway Premiership action against Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday, TS Galaxy on April 5 and Chippa United on April 19, before the second Soweto derby in May.
Though concerned by the waning powers of his once indefatigable club, Stylianou — the first white player to don the black and gold colours — is confident that glory days beckon.
While he understands why the fans are rowdy, and empathises with those who have reached the end of their tether, Stylianou remains firmly rooted in the faction that vows unwavering and support for Nabi.
Mired in mediocrity
Even for a team mired in misery thanks to its mediocrity, his belief that a turnaround is on the horizon is not broken.
For the heartbroken Chiefs, accepting words of encouragement support from a stalwart like Stylianou would be akin to chewing razor blades and hoping your tongue emerges unscathed.
His view that the disintegration that has befallen the team cannot be undone in one season may have a tinge of truth but rings hollow in the ears of the disillusioned.
Some may find it inviting to imbibe in his well of wisdom, his frank but not foul manners, his messaging of incisive insights shared in his humbling humility. But they want a Chiefs that wins more matches than they lose [they have won eight and lost nine of 22]. They want a Chiefs that scores more goals [22] than they concede [26].
For them, only that turnaround would dissuade them from believing that the solution lies in replacing yet another technical team.
X — @bbkunplugged99
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