Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has launched a scathing
assessment of his former club’s current plight, describing the situation as
a “real disaster” following their fourth consecutive defeat across all
competitions.
Amakhosi slumped to a 1-0 loss against Richards Bay at the Richards Bay
Stadium on Tuesday night, compounding the disappointment of their 3-0
thrashing by arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in their previous outing.
Speaking exclusively to the Siya crew, an emotional Khanye did not hold back
in his critique of a club he believes has been in decline for far longer
than recent results suggest.
“This problem has been ongoing, and some of us have been talking about it
for a long time. But when the team picks up a few wins here and there,
people think everything is fine, and they don’t want to listen. Now it’s
clear for everyone to see – this is a real disaster,” Khanye said.
“It’s very painful for me as a former player. I got my big break at Chiefs,
and the club gave me an opportunity to play professional football. They
treated some of us very well, and without Chiefs, people wouldn’t have known
who we are. I will always be grateful to the club, which is why it hurts to
see it like this.”
The outspoken former winger turned his attention to the technical team,
questioning whether the current coaching structure had run its course
following the departure of head coach Nasreddine Nabi.
“For me, the two coaches currently in charge won’t take the team anywhere. I
think they’ve reached their ceiling and can’t go beyond what they’ve already
done in terms of improving the team. In my opinion, it was a mistake to
appoint them in the first place,” he asserted.
“They were brought in by Nasreddine Nabi, and obviously, they share the same
philosophy and ideas. When Nabi left, why did they remain? What exactly was
expected to change? If you believe Nabi was the right man, then why did he
leave? And if you believe he wasn’t, then why keep people who think the same
way as him?”
Khanye also reiterated his long-standing concerns about the quality within
the current playing squad, suggesting many players are simply not up to the
standard required for a club of Chiefs’ stature.
“The less said about the players, the better. I’ve been saying for a long
time that the majority of the current squad don’t deserve to wear that
jersey. People doubted me when I said it before, but now the results are
speaking for themselves,” he said.
Chiefs will attempt to halt their alarming slide when they return to league
action against Durban City at the iconic FNB Stadium on March 15 – a fixture
that could prove pivotal in determining the immediate mood around Naturena.
