Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki has spelt out the mark he wants to make at the club ahead of the MTN8 quarterfinals this weekend.
At the official launch of the MTN8 on Thursday in Johannesburg, the one coach who must have felt the most pressure was Ntseki, given Chiefs’ slow start to the new season.
Scoring one goal in two DStv Premiership games and only picking up one point out of six sums up how Amakhosi have fared so far.
But that has not deterred Ntseki from having a clear-cut vision of what he wants to achieve at the trophy-starved club.
The Soweto giants started the 2023/24 season with a 0-0 draw against Chippa United at home before suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns.
“Everything at Kaizer Chiefs is pressure,” Ntseki told the media. “That is because the expectations and the demands are always high. This is especially from the club’s management, who are used to winning things. The supporters who are used to celebrating things.
“When we are not winning, it is a disappointment. It becomes a huge setback to the management of the club and the supporters.”
NTSEKI DETERMINED TO BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS AT CHIEFS
Ntseki is the man who was handed the burden of ending the trophy drought. This comes after coach Arthur Zwane failed to do so in his tenure as head coach last season. But the former Bafana coach says he has been drilling the message that at Chiefs, you have to win every game.
“So when you have an opportunity to play a game for Kaizer Chiefs, you understand that it is a must-win.
“Be it a cup or league game, it is a must-win game,” continued Ntseki. “It has been a while now since we have put smiles on the faces of our supporters.
“It has been a long time since the chairman, Dr Kaizer Motaung, has been presented with a trophy. So, all of that comes with responsibility.
“It is a responsibility that we are taking as the technical team, as the players, to say, ‘we represent this club. We have to do well for the club’,” added Ntseki.
Chiefs have gone for eight-plus years without lifting silverware. But Ntseki says he is ready to change that and leave his mark.
“It comes with the territory,” added Ntseki. “When you are appointed as head coach of Kaizer Chiefs, you know the demands. You know the expectation.
‘THE MARK’ NTSEKI WANTS TO LEAVE AT CHIEFS
“I think it is also up to you as an individual to decide what mark you want to leave at the club.
“The mark that I want to leave at this club as a coach is that of winning a trophy… Of doing well in the league, to win matches and make our supporters happy.
Ntseki and his troops will take on Cape Town City in an MTN8 quarter-final clash at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, 13 August 2023. Kick-off is set for 15:00.
Story by Joshua Hendricks
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