Kaizer Chiefs will be in action on Saturday for the sixth time this month as they continue rebuilding for the new season.
The Glamour Boys camped in the Netherlands from July 3 to 19, playing five games, where they lost four and won one. They will now play Ghanaian heavyweights Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup fixture at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Former Amakhosi midfielder Frank Makua has since warned the supporters against criticizing the players owing to their struggles in friendly games.
‘I hope they learned valuable lessons'
“I think the Toyota Cup is beneficial for boosting morale as it prepares you for the start of the new season,” he said in his interview with KickOff.
“Last season, Chiefs had a poor start in the Toyota Cup in Bloemfontein, but it helped in building a team, especially with new players who still need to understand the club's playing culture. I'm not sure how Chiefs select the teams they face in the Toyota Cup, but it surely provides them with a significant boost.
“Although they didn't perform well during their pre-season tour, I hope they learned valuable lessons in the Netherlands. It's important to remember that they were competing against strong teams there,” he added.
‘It would be unfair to criticize the players'
Makua has further explained why Saturday's result will not be of any significance to the team ahead of the new season.
“I understand that Chiefs are a big team with a large fan base, and their supporters always expect top performances. However, we shouldn't judge them based on pre-season results. During these matches, clubs often use the opportunity to evaluate their players and try different combinations.
“Therefore, regardless of the outcome against Asante Kotoko tomorrow, let's hold off on making judgments. We should wait until the league starts and assess their performance after the first five games. It would be unfair to criticize them if they lose tomorrow, as it is still pre-season,” he concluded.
