Ailing Kaizer Chiefs need to perform a 'cleansing ceremony' urgently‚ says analyst Mamadou Gaye

11 November 2020 - 13:24 By Ofentse Ratsie
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Kaizer Chiefs have had a poor start to the season, scored one goal in five matches and were bundled out of the MTN8 in the semifinals by bitter rivals Orlando Pirates.
Kaizer Chiefs have had a poor start to the season, scored one goal in five matches and were bundled out of the MTN8 in the semifinals by bitter rivals Orlando Pirates.
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

The mounting problems at Kaizer Chiefs are "beyond football" and the ailing club desperately needs to conduct a cleansing ceremony to turn its fortunes around‚ says outspoken African football analyst Mamadou Gaye.

Chiefs have made a stuttering start to the season under new coach Gavin Hunt and their problems escalated when they lost 2-0 to rivals Orlando Pirates in a second leg semifinal of the MTN8 last weekend. Amakhosi lost the two-legged semi 5-0 on aggregate and the result elicited huge criticism from observers‚ fans and former players.

Gaye told Marawa TV that the ailing club needs to hold an urgent indaba with the players and perform a cleansing ceremony to turn their fortunes around.

“I told you that there's no soul any more in that team [Kaizer Chiefs] and that's part of it‚” said the outspoken Gaye.

Chiefs were the hosts of the Soweto derby last weekend but they did not wear their traditional gold and black colours in an unusual move that raised eyebrows among the fans.

“In terms of image and branding‚ everybody knows your colours. You walk past the television, you look [blue] ... you wonder which team is playing‚” added Gaye.

“You see, it doesn't even attract you to sit down‚ but wearing their colours you walk past and see the colours [gold and black] and you say, 'Chiefs is playing‚ let me sit down'.

“I think that there's something that is not right at the moment in that team and it's beyond football. I think they need an indaba or cleansing.”

Live in studio, Teboho Moloi and Mamadou Gaye join Robert Marawa.

“Maybe a couple of sheep or goats to pray to the ancestors to bring back sanity because what we see now is really unbelievable.”

On the other side of the coin‚ ex-Pirates legend Teboho Moloi says he does not agree with his former club's decision to adopt orange as one of its preferred kit choices this season.

“I am sorry ... I am old-fashioned. I'll never wear anything that is orange, it will itch my body. Or is it yellow?” he asked.

Moloi said Pirates’s new orange colours mirror their rivals Chiefs.

“Orange and black‚ those are original Kaizer Chiefs colours in 1970 - and you want to tell me that I am bold?”


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