Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Pio Nogueira is unhappy with the way the Soweto giants are struggling to stay relevant in the country.
Amakhosi have gone a decade without winning silverware which has resulted in high coach turnover. In the ongoing campaign, their only chance of ending the drought will be in the Nedbank Cup where they are already in the quarter-final.
He argues that the Glamour Boys might end up being like a defunct Moroka Swallows if things don't fall in place soonest.
‘Chiefs’ decay has been happening for years'
“I don’t identify with this Kaizer Chiefs anymore based on the Chiefs that I played for and got to see through all the years I was in South Africa,” Nogueira told SNL24.
“The way things are happening at Chiefs makes me feel like they will end up like Moroka Swallows. Right now, Chiefs are down to Swallows standards on the field, and it worries me. This decay has been happening over years and needs action to put the club back on track.
“Doctor Khumalo should be actively involved at Chiefs as the face of the club. Chiefs needs to have their former players involved around the club more than they are doing now. I find it rather strange that the identity of Chiefs’ success is being washed down the drain instead of being kept around the club to inspire this generation.”
Where are the Chiefs legends?
Apart from Doctor Khumalo, Noguera has mentioned other legends who can help the team deliver again.
“You cannot just have Doctor being a legend without being actively involved at the club when he is [to Chiefs] what Pele was to Santos. I don’t mean that they should be in the technical team, but players like Doctor are amongst a group of club legends that the current players should constantly see around the club to keep them on their toes instead of relaxing,” he continued.
“Doctor Khumalo, Ace Khuse, Brian Baloyi, [Siphiwe] Tshabalala need to be actively involved with the team because they were there through the club’s best years. They should be the former players whose opinion should be listened to frequently at the club because they identify with the club’s success.
“Not to say they will be making orders but rather be given a voice and be respected from inside the club. It will not come at a big cost but just consultancy contracts and be asked for their opinions even when new players are being signed.
“This is how it is done here in Brazil. I fail to understand how people who achieved so much with the club as players are not visible around such a big club.”
