Former Bafana Bafana player Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi believes that to revive Kaizer Chiefs, the team needs to add one or two experienced players in the upcoming transfer window.
Vilakazi says either Andile Jali, Bongani Zungu or Kermit Erasmus would be perfect selections when the transfer window opens on July 1. They are all in their 30s, have experience playing in Europe and are now free agents.
Zungu recently parted ways with Mamelodi Sundowns, Erasmus with Orlando Pirates and Jali has been without a club since Swallows let him go in January. Though they will not come cheaply, especially Zungu with Saudi teams eyeing him, Vilakazi says Chiefs should acquire their services to bolster their leadership.
Since winning the PSL title in 2015 under Stuart Baxter, Chiefs have not been able to replicate that success and regain their former glory. “Little Napoleon”, as Vilakazi is known, believes that the lack of a proper balance between youth and experience is the cause.
In the past, Amakhosi had the formula of having a majority of old heads in their successful teams. They helped instil the club’s culture in young players from their development ranks or foreign players. But not many older players remain.
Only Itumeleng Khune and Keagan Dolly possess the necessary credentials, but even they are in and out of the team.
To make matters worse, Dolly, Khune and other senior players such as Njabulo Ngcobo, Siyethemba Sithebe, Edmilson Dove, George Matlou and Sifiso Hlanti are in danger of leaving as their contracts expire at the end of June.
Though interim coach Cavin Johnson skirted the issue, lack of leadership was evident last season as Chiefs finished 10th in the DStv Premiership, their worst-ever position in the PSL.
With young players such as Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Tshabalala still new to the big stage, Chiefs have lacked a player they can depend on to shoulder responsibilities up front and to conjure moments of brilliance, especially in attack.
“Bongani Zungu just left Sundowns, why not? Kermit Erasmus just left Pirates, why not bring them in? You need experienced guys,” Vilakazi said at the launch of the second edition of the Betway 12th Man Programme in Melrose last week.
“It’s funny for me when, here in South Africa, players are 32 or 33, then we say they are old and they should retire. When we are at home watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — how old are they? They are over 35.“So, why can’t we give Jali a chance?
— Benedict Vilakazi
“Chiefs, right now, need leaders outside the field, but also inside the field. They do have good players who can improve, learn more and be good, but without experience surrounding them, it will be very difficult. We all learnt through experienced players.
“I got guidance from older players like Godfrey Sapula, Gerald Raphahlele, Pollen Ndlanya and Jerry Skosana. At times when you are a youngster, you tend to be lazy which is normal.
“That is when you need leaders who will call the young players to order and get them back to the game. They motivate the young players to transfer the skills they show in training into the game when it matters.”
Vilakazi criticised the trend of players being overlooked in their 30s.
“It’s funny for me when, here in South Africa, players are 32 or 33, then we say they are old and they should retire,” the former Pirates player with more than 100 appearances said. “When we are at home watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — how old are they? They are over 35.
“So, why can’t we give Jali a chance? Players like Erasmus, let’s give them a chance. We don’t support our players when they get to that age.
“The advice l give is that sometimes it’s good to have a player who is 32 or 33 in your squad. You know that he is more focused than a young boy.”
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