Kaizer Chiefs mentor Molefi Ntseki is buzzing following the signing of Sibongiseni “Ox” Mthethwa and has explained why he sees the steady midfielder and other new recruits as a future investment for the club.
With Mthethwa having become the ninth signing for Chiefs this season, Ntseki has said that the club is laying a solid foundation for future success with the new arrivals.
“He is a quality player,” said Ntseki when asked about the signing of Mthethwa from Stellenbosch FC. “He’s been in the DStv Premiership for more than four seasons now. We have seen him.
“I think he has been improving as an individual over the past years. We will always go for such a player [Mthethwa]. He will obviously add value to the team.” The highly-rated midfielder joined Chiefs on a three-year deal.
Ntseki made it known that they’re rebuilding a team for the upcoming seasons and that the club is not expecting new players such as Mthethwa to hit the ground running.
The Kaizer Chiefs coach has made squad auditing a central theme of his first season in charge, as the club has overhauled its squad with a number of new signings.
NTSEKI believes new CHIEFS signings can lay a strong foundation
These new recruits: Ranga Chivaviro [30], Edson Castillo [29], Mduduzi Mdantsane [28], Jasond Gonzalez [24], Pule Mmodi [30], Thatayaone Ditlhokwe [25], Tebogo Potsane [30], Given Msimango [26], and Sibongiseni Mthethwa [29] were identified last year by Chiefs during “a squad audit”.
On the other hand, the Soweto giants also let go of nine players in the current transfer window set to close on Friday, 22 September 2023.
The squad audit process, according to Ntseki involved carefully profiling potential signings. This is to ensure that they would be a good fit for the club and its playing style while also releasing players who were deemed surplus to requirements.
In consideration of the foregoing, one can be forgiven for stating that the Amakhosi faithful might have to wait a little longer to see their team win silverware.
Ntseki asks for understanding and patience from the fans, who have already expressed dissatisfaction with the ex-Bafana Bafana coach early in his tenure as Amakhosi’s mentor. Ntseki was pelted with missiles in the league defeats against TS Galaxy and SuperSport United.
He insists that Rome wasn’t built in a day and believes the club will eventually end its eight-year trophy drought.
Ntseki seems satisfied that Chiefs’ transfer window has laid the foundations for long-term improvement. “Every good quality player that we see and audit and make a proper profile of him, we can afford to bring them to the club,” he said.
CHIEFS COACH SAYS Rome wasn’t built in a day
Most recently, Ntseki stated that he needs time to turn Chiefs around. He insisted that even the most successful coaches in the world didn’t begin their tenures by clinching trophies and matches from the word go. He pointed out that even coaches like Alex Ferguson, Pitso Mosimane, and Pep Guardiola struggled initially before achieving success.
“You need to build a very strong team because it is not only about this season but seasons to come. This is so that we can have stability in the team. Because we are building a team for seasons to come. Not necessarily bringing in anybody and expecting that person to hit the ground running,” added Ntseki.
“There are a lot of things involved when you have to profile a player. One has to coach and train the player and make him part of the team that will be winning games.
“So I think it is more of a foundation we are laying as a club. Everything is going very well. The club has secured the services of a number of players, especially coming into this season and last season.
“We are looking forward to having more of a tactical cohesion and understanding. And when we start winning, we will get the confidence. The rhythm becomes what you are looking for in a team of Kaizer Chiefs’ calibre,” concluded Ntseki.
Amakhosi are in line to win their first silverware after eight years. Ntseki’s men will be aiming to brush away Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final second leg to reach the final.
They meet Sundowns on Saturday, 23 September at the Lucas Moripe Stadium at 15:00. The first tie ended 1-1 at the FNB Stadium on the 2nd of September.
RELATED STORY: The big investment that gave Given Msimango the Chiefs move
