Ex-Pirates star sends strong message to Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs fans have been urged by former Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi to take it easy especially on young players.

Mfundo Vilakazi, Mduduzi Shabalala and co. have been getting it rough especially when things haven’t been going their way or when those youngsters miss what look like easy chances.

Kaizer Chiefs forward Mfundo Vilakazi celebrates his goal against Siwelele. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

The most recent incident was when Mduduzi Shabalala missed a penalty in the Carling Knockout semi-final against Siwelele. Majority of Amakhosi supporters were not happy, but moments later he won a penalty that was converted by Wandile Duba.

Chiefs went on to win the game 2-1.

Not good to jeer players

“My thing is for the fans to take it easy, especially on young players that are coming in. Sometimes you see say Mfundo Vilakazi playing, trying his best and not doing well in the game, and then you see like lots of fans speaking bad about a player that’s very young for the team that they support,” Maswanganyi told SAFJA.

“And it’s not really good because that player is someone that still needs to grow. I think there’s also like senior players in the team who would take it better than the younger players.

Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs - Image: Chiefs — Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs – Image: Chiefs

“I watched the Kaizer Chiefs [vs Siwelele] and I saw Mdu miss a penalty. And I watched the fans signal for him to go out. Minutes later, he creates another penalty for the team, the team gets back into the game.

“Just imagine if they would have taken him out at that time. Probably they will never got even a goal. They would have lost the game,” the versatile attacker added.

Take it easy on young players

“But for me, it’s for the fans to take it easy on the younger players. The more they encourage them, is the more they will do for the team. And we need these players, to grow better, to improve because these are our future, they’re going to go to the Bafana Bafana team,” he added.

“So we need to protect them, we need to show them love, and we need to appreciate them. Somewhere outside the country, they show lots of love for young players, but in South Africa, it’s very difficult to show love to those players.

Dejected Kaizer Chiefs fans after their team lost in a PSL game

“But you don’t understand how those players feel because these players are young and these are the players that can change South African football when they have to compete in the World Cups, the AFCONS. These are the type of players that can win us trophies as a nation,” Maswanganyi concluded.