Solomons opens up on tough times at Chiefs before Monyane’s unfortunate injury

Kaizer Chiefs defender Dillan Solomons has vowed to continue giving his best to stand a chance for regular football at the club.

Last season, Solomons and Reeve Frosler were the ones dominating the right-back department, with Zitha Kwinika coming in occasionally. However, the signing of Thabiso Monyane, who was released by Orlando Pirates, and the shifting of Kwinika to central defense have changed things at the club.

Monyane has commanded a starting berth owing to his strong showings, but after getting injured, Frosler replaced him until recently, when Solomons got his chance. The 29-year-old shone for Amakhosi in recent assignments. However, it has not been easy, as explained.

There is nothing you can do but work hard

“These past few months were really tough for me, but really good for the team, and that’s what comes first, the team comes first, obviously I’m really sad Thabiso had to go out for his injury, he was doing really well,” he told the media.

“As players, sometimes you have to understand when players are doing well, there’s nothing more you can do than work hard and show support; and at the time he was doing very well, now it’s about going into the games as myself.

“Try to keep that momentum going, sometimes in the last couple of seasons, we can win a few games and then it just dies – so we didn’t want that to happen, we want to be more consistent,” Solomons added.

How Solomons remained ready despite being sidelined 

Solomons, who initially played for Cape Town All Stars, Stellenbosch, and eventually now-defunct Moroka Swallows, has further revealed how he remained focused. 

“I was trying to stay in a good mental state, it’s really important for me, keeping myself in a good state, and then working on things you feel you can work on. It’s always good to speak to the coaches to find out where I can improve and work on those things.

“Obviously, keeping yourself physically good, so that when your opportunity comes, you have to be ready, because in these times you have to keep believing that your opportunity will come, and you just have to stay there mentally and just be ready for that opportunity,” Solomons concluded.