The pressure of donning the Kaizer Chiefs’ jersey is not every player’s cup of tea unless your name is Mduduzi Mdantsane.
Following his return to his boyhood club, Mdantsane seems to have mastered the art of dealing with the Khosi Nation’s pressure.
From the moment he arrived at Naturena, Mdantsane was well aware of the big stature of the club he signed for and how heavily he would be scrutinised if he did not perform well.
Mdantsane’s level of self-confidence is through the roof as he carried Cape Town City FC on his shoulders for several years.
The Mpumalanga-born star featured in over 100 games for the Citizens. He has 21 goals and seven assists to show for it. But, before then, he played a vital role when Baroka FC won the Telkom Knockout in 2018.
And now, the 28-year-old has had a fair start to life at Naturena. Mdantsane has started in three of the four games he has played so far in the new season. He has an assist to his name, which came in the MTN8 quarter-final against his former club, CT City.
Mdantsane, who penned a three-year deal at Chiefs, has revealed how he deals with the enormous amount of pressure of playing for the Soweto giants.
With the club enduring an eight-year trophy drought, the supporters at Amakhosi lack patience for any player who takes too long to adapt.
HOW MDANTSANE IS DEALING WITH DEMANDS AT CHIEFS
But, Mdantsane, a Chiefs youth development product, claims it is not difficult to handle the pressure and expectations if you are strong mentally.
“You’ve to stay calm as a player and always try to focus,” said Mdantsane. “Pressure is there, always, and it is up to you as a player as to how you deal with it. But the fans deserve more, and we, as the players, also deserve more and to win.
“One thing that is very key to the team is to win trophies. It is not easy to wear the Kaizer Chiefs jersey.
“But you have to be strong and demand more from yourself as well and try to push each game and each chance you get.
“So, it is not that difficult [meeting the demands and expectations], but I’m strong. I’m a professional, and I know what’s at stake, and I know what to do. I’m here to play and to help the team.”
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