Kaizer Chiefs legend Reneilwe Letsholonyane has attributed Amakhosi’s lack of winning trophies to players’ mentally.
‘Yeye’, 44, was part of Amakhosi’s last golden generation that won the league but parted ways with the club in 2016, a season after their last league trophy. He has won a total nine trophies inclusive of two league titles, the Nedbank Cup and two MTN8 trophies in his eight years at Naturena.
Since his generation, Chiefs has struggled to win trophies and only two seasons ago broke a 10-year drought by winning the Ke Yona Cup and returned to the top eight last season after two campaigns of finishing in the bottom half.
Speaking on Diski Diaries with Joe Crann, Yeye touched on the importance of continuity in the team’s culture of signing players citing how he was able to adapt and continue the culture.
“I think it’s important that you plan ahead,” said Yeye.
“It’s important that there’s continuity even the culture of the team is very important. It’s what contributed to the team to be where it is now. For me, I think those smaller things they played a huge role in obviously the struggles for the past years. I mean, Kaizer Chiefs used to have an easy transition in when one player goes out there’s already one in that will take over, and it does not look like there’s a change.
“When I got there, there was Thabo Mooki, there was Tinashe [Nengomasha], there was Gerald Sibeko. For me, Thabo played one season and then he retired. So, there was still these two left and then when Tinashe left and sort of retired, I was already used to how things should be done, the culture and how Kaizer Chiefs play got used to winning trophies because of the previous generation.
“I think at some point as Kaizer Chiefs we got it wrong, and I’m saying we because of I’ve been that part up until whatever happened, and then it’s still in my blood, and it’s still a team that I want to see do well.
The other factor the former Bafana Bafana international mentioned is the club not acquiring players who suit the institution’s style of play saying playing for Chiefs is much more than about talent.
Yeye feels players need to be strong mentally to be able to handle what it means to play for the club and be able to come back after bad performances and results.
“It stopped in trying to get or to sign players that suit the Kaizer Chiefs brand and I think Kaizer Chiefs brand is not about being talented,” added Letsholonyane.
“It’s not. Think about it, there’s not a lot of players that were extremely talented that were signed or played for Kaizer Chiefs. Maybe a few of those that will sort of entertain supporters and what-not. But most of the players were those players that worked hard, the right attitude, can stand pressure, can overcome that pressure. It’s more of a mental thing when things are difficult.”
“You had those players that will overcome that obstacle of mental strength. Not that the players that Kaizer Chiefs have signed are not talented. They are talented, but that talent for me they need to build the mental capacity of matching the talent when you represent a brand like Chiefs. It’s very difficult. Kaizer Chiefs is the best team that is supported in the country, maybe also in the continent, probably. And then when you play every game the stadium is full.
“So, there’s always pressure for players to perform, and when you don’t perform, obviously the supporters will hammer you. And if you’re not strong enough to have a strong comeback, then you are gone forever. And when you’re gone forever that means the team get disturbed, and the team will not get the results because we’ll keep changing players, trying to figure out which one will do well and there’s no consistency there.
“So, it starts with the players. Players must build that strong mental attitude when you play for a team like Kaizer Chiefs. Talent, you have, you know how to play football or else you wouldn’t be playing for that team when you don’t know how to play football. It’s more mental than anything.”
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