Kaizer Chiefs star responds to Motaung’s title demands – ‘It’s new to me’

Kaizer Chiefs vice-captain Zitha Kwinika has distanced himself from recent comments made by the club’s management, stating his focus is solely on securing positive results on the pitch.

The defender was asked to respond to remarks from Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung, who declared that winning the Betway Premiership is the club’s primary objective this season.

Amakhosi are in the midst of a prolonged league title drought, having last been crowned champions in the 2014/15 season under former coach Stuart Baxter. Since that triumph, the Soweto giants have found it difficult to reclaim their spot at the pinnacle of South African football, with domestic silverware remaining elusive.

The club’s only major trophy in the last decade was the 2025 Nedbank Cup, secured under current head coach Nasreddine Nabi.

Kwinika weighs in on Motaung’s demands

Kwinika has been present for both the highs and lows. He was a junior member of the league-winning squad in 2015 and played a key role in the Nedbank Cup victory last year, featuring in the final.

Despite the mounting pressure to deliver a league title, Kwinika insisted he would not engage in discussions he was not directly involved in.

“I don’t comment on things I haven’t heard, or, to be honest with you, it’s new to me in that conversation,” he stated as per Sportswire.

“But I think everyone here is professional enough to know that we have to do our job correctly. So, in terms of what needs to happen or what not, those are not conversations I’m part of.”

“My conversations with the coaches are clear: we need to get the results we require or deserve for the team, for us to say we’re doing our job properly,” Kwinika added.

Kaizer Chiefs defender issues rallying call

Currently fourth in the Betway Premiership standings, Chiefs have a crucial match against Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, which could see them strengthen their league position.

For Kwinika, the immediate goal is to claim all three points and build momentum. He believes a victory is essential for fostering the consistency and confidence needed to achieve their campaign goals.

“The game is very important for us going forward because we know what’s at stake,” he explained. “For us to have a good run, it’s important to keep the consistency. I think mainly winning the game will give us a bit of confidence going forward, and then we continue from where we are and where we want to go.”

Chiefs will also be aiming for their first victory against Siwelele, after failing to defeat the Free State outfit last season. Siwelele took four points from their two encounters, securing a draw in the first match before defeating Amakhosi in the reverse fixture.