The noise coming from the Kaizer Chiefs supporters this week has been deafening. The decibels levels are rising with every match that they are winning.
They may have been watching, from their TVs, as rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns were slaughtering each in the MTN8 – but they must have been happy they were not involved.
In fact, maybe missing out on the MTN8 tournament was a blessing in disguise so that Amakhosi can focus on the holy grail, the league race, which they last won in the 2014-15 season. While the Buccaneers and Masandawana were at each other’s throats like warring siblings, Chiefs took a by-pass and moved with the stealth of a Black Hawk helicopter to record three out of three wins, for the first time in 10 years.
They are joint leaders with Sekhukhune United at the summit on nine points. Babina Noko are at the top due to a better goal difference and the Chiefs fans are already saying “bring the title to Naturena”.
Credit should go to the club, unlike in previous seasons, they ventured into the market cleverly and they should pose a threat to Sundowns’ dominance.
But Chiefs should be reminded as to what happened with Pirates at the beginning of last season. The Buccaneers rewrote history, winning their first seven games.
The start gave them the kind of wings that made them favourites to topple Sundowns and to end their seven-on-the trott title-winning streak. It wasn’t to be as the brazilians virtually strolled to their 15th title overall in the PSL era.
Pirates, under JoséRiveiro, were playing a scrumptious blend of football and were oblite-rating all in their way. Patrick “Tito” Maswa-nganyi, Thalenthe Mbatha, Deon Hotto, Evi-dence Makgopa, Makhehleni Makhaula, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, to mention but a few, were on another level so much so that they appeared on the verge of winning the league title, the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Champions League. But the wheels came off spectacularly like those of a Boxer trolley that had seen better days.
The league is a marathon and you need endurance and stami-na. Sundowns have perfected the art of winning it, instilled by pioneer Pitso Mosimane. They know which teams to beat and which games do not matter much, and Chiefs will have to navigate that minefield.
The addition of Luke Baartman, Etiose Ighodaro and Asanele Velebayi to their squad will surely add more spark to Amakhosi’s improving and menacing attack. We are still not sure about Flavio Silva and Ethan Chislett and the sooner they come to the party with what they have brought to the table, the better.
Even sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr was beaming and he sported a smile that could split his face in half after Chiefs’ third win over Richards Bay: “It’s all about the specific players we need for how we want to play. We are very
excited and we always had a clear strategy about getting the best young talent. We’re just very pleased to welcome them.
“But we are very excited, especially also in bringing Ighodaro upfront. We know the young talent with Baartman and Velebayi. We are excited to unleash them to the fans, but at the same time they will need some time to understand who we are. This process hasn’t been easy. Again, the squad is picking but we’re still very much work in progress,” he added.
Sundowns are next on the menu on Wednesday at FNB Stadium and the defending champions will give Chiefs a litmus test. So, for now, it’s one game, one victory at a time… and that’s how you win the league.
