'I’m even embarrassed to say that I did well,' says Kaizer Chiefs' Siphiwe Tshabalala

Siphiwe Tshabalala is embarrassed when people talk about his good season‚ his overriding sentiment for 2016-17 being disappointment at Kaizer Chiefs ending without a trophy again.

Winning the Absa Premiership’s goal of the month for April – his second such award this year – at the PSL’s offices in Parktown on Wednesday‚ Tshabalala deflected attention at one of his best seasons.

“Thank you for the compliments‚ but for me it’s difficult to say that I had a great season‚ or so far I’ve achieved accolades whilst the team didn’t do well‚” the former Bafana Bafana midfielder said.

“I’m even embarrassed to say that I did well‚ I’ve won goal of the month twice.

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“We didn’t have a good season.

"That’s what overshadows everything.

“That’s the biggest thing for me – to contribute and help the team win at least one trophy.

"I didn’t achieve that‚ so I’m very disappointed about that.”

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Responding to what Chiefs legend Tinashe Nengomasha said this week about Tshabalala and central midfielder Willard Katsande standing out as consistently excellent among a sea of mediocrity at Amakhosi‚ Tshabalala said: “I think‚ obviously‚ playing for a team of Chiefs’ calibre‚ expectations are higher.

“You are required to perform week in‚ week out for a team that is known for winning trophies.

“And when we don’t win trophies‚ yes we will get criticised.

"And when we win games‚ we will still get criticised.

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“And I think it’s how you take criticism.

"We have to thrive on criticism.

"Whenever you’re being criticised there are always positives to take out of that‚ and it builds you as a person.

“I personally think that we share it as a collective.

"It’s not tennis‚ it’s not golf – but football.

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“So it requires everyone’s effort and contribution to make it a success.

“So I cannot point out players and say‚ ‘Player 1 didn’t do well‚ Player 2 didn’t do well’.

“No. I‚ as a player‚ what did I do to help the other players?

"It was not enough. So we didn’t do it as a collective‚ hence we have to take the punishment as a team.”

Tshabalala won goal of the month for his chip from range over goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse’s head in Chiefs’ 2-2 draw against SuperSport United at Mbombela Stadium on April 29.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport