Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Justice Sithole has shared his thoughts on what the club needs to do to become a major trophy contender again in the new season.
Last campaign, Amakhosi managed to break their 10-year trophy drought when they clinched the Nedbank Cup title, defeating arch-rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1 at the Iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
However, Chiefs’ poor performance in the Betway Premiership saw them miss out on a top-eight finish for the second year in a row. As a result, the Soweto giants missed out on the MTN8, a tournament that roared to life this past weekend with a thrilling quarter-final round that produced 16 goals.
This is in stark contrast to Sithole’s time with the club, where he was part of the squad that won three major trophies in the 2001/02 season: the BP Top Eight, the Coca-Cola Cup, and the Mandela Cup Champions [now the CAF Confederation Cup].
‘THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT,’ SAYS EX-CHIEFS MAN JUSTICE SITHOLE
Sithole noted that for the team to achieve fruitful results, they must build on their performance in the Nedbank Cup final and bring in more quality players who understand the club’s culture.
In preparation for the new season, Chiefs have signed six new players whom the club believes will help them reclaim their glory days. The new signings are Nkanyiso Shinga, Thabiso Monyane, Paseka Mako, Ethan Chislett, Siphesihle Ndlovu, and Flavio Silva.
“Things have changed a lot from back in the day to now, but it’s a good thing that they managed to turn the tables by winning the Nedbank Cup last season,” Sithole told FARPost. “You need to have quality players who understand the team if you really want to compete for major trophies.
“I think that at the moment, after the Nedbank Cup final, Chiefs can take it from there and move forward.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung recently stated that the club is not done with signings and expects to add one or two more players before the transfer window closes.
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