Legendary former Kaizer Chiefs captain Neil Tovey has reacted to the club’s disappointing exits from the CAF Confederation Cup, Nedbank Cup, and Carling Knockout this season.
The Amakhosi legend didn’t hold back his disappointment after Chiefs’ continental hopes were dashed at the group stage, adding to a season that has already seen early exits from two domestic knockout cups.
Chiefs needed just a point to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals, but instead suffered a 2–1 defeat to Zamalek SC to crash out.
That result followed their Nedbank Cup round of 32 elimination against Stellenbosch FC, the same side that knocked them out of the Carling Knockout earlier last October.
According to Tovey, playing in CAF tournaments is vital not only for prestige but also for attracting and identifying quality players.
The Chiefs icon also believes that the league campaign is far from over. With 15 matches still to play, he feels there has been clear improvement this season, even though well-equipped rivals like Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns remain strong contenders.
NEIL TOVEY: CAF HELPS YOU TO FIND PLAYERS TO SIGN
“Obviously, it’s disappointing. The club needs to stay in those competitions,” Tovey told FARPost. “That is how you attract players.
“CAF is also how you identify players to sign because you play against them. That’s how you see whether you need a left-sided winger or whatever the case may be. You get to gauge how good they are.
“So, ja, it’s not good. They need to stay in those competitions, but it is what it is. It’s not over yet in the league. There are still quite a few games to play [15 fixtures]. There’s a long way to go.
“There has been a big improvement this season in terms of league performance. It has been a step in the right direction.
“But Pirates and Sundowns are quite well-equipped, but let’s see,” Tovey concluded.
RELATED STORY: What Kaizer Chiefs must fix after heartbreaking CAF Confed exit