Kaizer Chiefs legend Vusi ‘Computer’ Lamola has weighed in on the
deepening crisis at the Naturena-based side, offering a stark assessment of
the team’s current state and suggesting that the answers lie with the club’s
leadership, not on the coaching bench.
The Glamour Boys looked completely out of sorts in the most high-profile
fixture on the South African football calendar, suffering a humiliating 3-0
defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby. The
performance raised serious questions about the players’ application, with
fellow club icon Itumeleng Khune voicing concerns that certain individuals
lacked the required fight and respect for the famous gold and black shirt.
The misery was compounded on Tuesday when Chiefs slumped to a fourth
consecutive loss, going down 1-0 to Richards Bay in a lackluster display.
Speaking to PSLSA, Lamola did not hold back in his critique of what
he witnessed against Pirates, highlighting a distinct lack of structure and
threat in the team’s play.
“I saw the game, and they are still very far from reality. On and off the
ball, they are lost and don’t have penetration at all,” Lamola stated.
“If you have to consider the attempts made towards the goalkeeper, I don’t
remember any. That on its own shows there’s no penetration. I don’t know
what could be the main problem, but they are still very far from reality.”
‘Maria-Maria’, as the former midfield maestro was affectionately known,
shifted the focus from the technical team to the club’s hierarchy. He
cautioned that a change in head coach would prove to be a temporary fix if
deeper, underlying issues are not confronted.
“I think the management would know best what the root cause of the problem
would be, and only the management can come up with the right solution, no
one else,” Lamola explained.
“The solution is not external, it’s internal, because they know exactly what
the root cause of all this situation is. The problem is with the management
rather than the coaches, that’s my analysis from a distance. They are the
ones capable of doing a proper diagnosis of the situation and coming up with
the relevant solution.”
Lamola concluded with a stark warning to the Amakhosi board, suggesting that
failure to look inward could lead to a cycle of mediocrity regardless of who
is at the helm.
“They can get different coaches, but if they don’t face the problem head-on,
it’s going to be a recurring issue.”
