A KAIZER Chiefs legend believes that the Amakhosi must win the Nedbank Cup and secure a Top 4 finish — ideally a Top 3 spot — for the current campaign to be considered a success. Anything less would be a failure, warranting serious changes.
Without silverware for the last10 years, Chiefs appointed Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi to turn their fortunes around. While they have shown some improvement compared to the previous campaign, the Phefeni Glamour Boys still lag far behind their biggest rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
Brian Baloyi, a former goalkeeping stalwart for the club, insists that success at Chiefs has always been measured in trophies, and that standard should not change.
“They have to win the Nedbank Cup if we are to call this a successful season. They must also finish in the Top 4, although a Top 3 finish would be fantastic — because this is Chiefs we are talking about.
"If they fail to achieve that, then this season would be a big failure, and, for me, the club must then review both their coaching staff and playing personnel. In fact, the entire club would have to take collective responsibility and face the consequences.”
Baloyi, who was a key figure for Chiefs during 11 glorious years, acknowledges the team's gradual improvement as the season has progressed.
“They are a better team now than they were at the start of the season, and I am impressed with some of the signings they made during the January transfer window. However, they are still not good enough to challenge for championship honours.
"That said, they could pull off a surprise victory in the Nedbank Cup, where they have reached the semi-finals, and perhaps finish in a respectable league position.”
Baloyi also hopes that coach Nabi can find a way to better motivate his players.
“They played really well against Sundowns in that recent match in Atteridgeville. But it is pointless to perform at that level and then struggle in the next game against a smaller team, as Chiefs have done. Nabi must inspire his players to maintain that intensity week in and week out.”
While Baloyi understands the pressure that comes with managing South Africa’s most supported club, he believes Nabi should avoid engaging too much with outside criticism.
“In my observation, Nabi sometimes pays too much attention to what he hears or reads on social media. This is Kaizer Chiefs, and everyone — along with their dog — has an opinion on what the club should be doing. I’m not saying he shouldn’t listen at all, but he would do well to focus less on the critics and more on restoring the club’s glory days, which is the reason he was brought here.”
Baloyi is particularly pleased with Nabi’s willingness to give young players a chance to prove themselves.
“I love that he is integrating youngsters from the development side. Now that they are playing, it is up to them to rise to the occasion, as they are no longer ‘young players.’
"They need to understand that playing for Chiefs comes with immense pressure. This is where the coach’s experience is crucial — he must guide and reassure them.”
Chiefs’ next fixture is against Golden Arrows, and they will need a full three points if they are to climb from their current eighth position towards the Top 3 finish that Baloyi considers a benchmark for success. With eight matches remaining in the season, every point will be vital.