‘Underperforming’ Kaizer Chiefs striker warmed – ‘Fans will soon call for his head’

Striker Etiosa Ighodaro is facing a critical second season at Kaizer Chiefs, with his future at the club hanging in the balance after a disappointing and injury-ridden debut campaign.

Ighodaro’s first year with the Amakhosi was largely forgettable, yielding just a single goal. The statistics tell a stark story of his struggles: he played a mere 460 minutes and missed 33 of the club’s 40 matches. For a forward at a team with Chiefs’ high standards, these figures are a major cause for concern.

Having signed a two-year contract with an option for a third, the upcoming season will be decisive in determining whether the club extends his stay. The 25-year-old has only managed to hit double figures once in his PSL career, a feat he achieved while playing for Chippa United.

Former PSL striker Obinna Okafor, who played for Maritzburg United and Benoni Premier United, understands the immense pressure of leading the line in South Africa. He believes Ighodaro faces a significant challenge under new coach Fernando da Cruz.

Ighodaro warned of imminent fan pressure

“He has been injured for a while, so there are a lot of challenges and hurdles that might prove too high for him under a new coach,” Okafor warned as per KickOff. “He is under pressure at Chiefs and runs the risk of having supporters calling for his head soon if goals don’t come.”

Okafor questioned whether Ighodaro was the right calibre of player for the Soweto giants, suggesting the club should target more established names.

“He is a good player, yes, but did he deserve to be at Chiefs? For a team like Chiefs, you need to sign players who have made a name for themselves,” he stated.

The former Nigerian forward also raised concerns about the club’s recruitment strategy and Ighodaro’s mental fortitude to handle the expectations at Naturena.

Nigerian striker’s Chiefs move questioned

“Chiefs is a traditional team bound by society and so have higher expectations from their players, especially a foreign number nine. Chiefs needs to learn how to sign players,” Okafor added.

“With Etiosa, good player and wonderful technique, but mental-wise, has he established himself well enough to be the man to deliver goals at Chiefs? What did Chiefs sign Etiosa for? Did they sign him for goals?”

Okafor concluded that while Ighodaro’s individual performance is under scrutiny, broader issues at the club, such as the quality of service to the strikers, also play a crucial role.

“He is under pressure to perform this season, and do you look at him as someone that will be kept beyond this season? Only time will tell,” Okafor reflected.

“I think he will struggle at Chiefs because this is a club that hasn’t been on a winning trail… Also, the issue of supply should be considered because for a striker to function, he needs to be serviced well. But then he still has the season ahead of him.”