Kaizer Chiefs legend Siphiwe Tshabalala believes the reason why players who leave the club struggle elsewhere is because of the comfort provided at Naturena among other things.
The former midfielder spoke to iDiski Times senior journalist Lorenz Köhler in edition 155 of the newspaper, where he talked about the risk he took of leaving Amakhosi after spending time in the development ranks.
‘Shabba’ played for Chiefs’ U15 and U17 sides, and left to focus on school before joining Free State Stars. He could have opted to join the U19 side and enjoy one of the easier ways to get to the side’s first team.
The former South African international spent three seasons at the now-defunct Ea Lla Koto from 2004 to 2007, before being snapped up by Chiefs’ first team where he enjoyed a trophy-laden career spanning just over a decade.
Answering a question on whether it can work out for some of the players currently at the club to go elsewhere even on loan, Tshabalala said the challenge is in the players loving the softness at Chiefs.
ALSO READ: Shabba – The Difference Between Mofokeng & Chiefs Youngsters
Chiefs Update: 6 players out of final clash
“For quite some time players tend to struggle when they leave Chiefs because of the environment, the facilities, it’s world-class, and the professionalism is the best,” Shabba told iDiski Times.
“We can match the European standard, when you go there, there’s security at the gate, you go in with your own parking spot, your own locker room, gym, and clean clothes in your basket. It’s up to you if you want to train in sweatpants or shorts or tights. It’s the best environment. When you are done you leave it there, you go have a decent meal and then you go home.
“But when you leave that environment, you go to another team, with all due respect, now you start changing in a car. Now you realise the little things you took for granted, in the parking lot you’re dressing in the car. You bring your own socks, there’s no showers, no lunch – you end up not caring about the most important things. You can become complacent, you arrive late because so and so is doing it and it looks like it’s normal in this environment.”