Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs have unsurprisingly grabbed headlines in the lead-up to the 2024/25 campaign but will relinquish that privilege for at least the next two weeks as a consequence of their failures last season.
Amakhosi have been thrown into deep introspection as they are forced to become spectators in an improved R10 million MTN8 competition that will see Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns kick off as favourites.
Gone are the days when the Glamour Boys would be placed on a pedestal ahead of an MTN8 tournament and rightfully so, considering they are the most successful side in this competition with 15 titles to their name.
Chiefs’ 10th-place finish in the league last season saw them miss out on a place in the MTN8 for the second time in the past six seasons, a relatively unheard of occurrence for a side once nicknamed ‘the cup kings’ of South African football.
If the arrival of Tunisian mentor Nasreddine Nabi and his own staff had brought about considerable positivity ahead of the new season, part of that might have been dashed last week after Chiefs were hammered by Yanga SC.
Amakhosi were hapless as they suffered a 4-0 defeat in their first game on South African soil of this pre-season campaign, perhaps a required reality check but also a cry for further recruitment and improvement. The club’s sporting director, Kaizer Motaung jr has already revealed that the club is not done on the transfer front, which will bring about an air of optimism.
Chiefs will have another six weeks without competitive football to consider their options, which might spell a rediscovery of themselves and give them sufficient time to blend new signings with the current group.
Nabi can also be assured of having a huge percentage of his team available even during the international break of September 1 to 9.
With Chiefs finding themselves in the unfamiliar position of letting an entirely new technical team take over the reins, some might suggest that having the opportunity to go through a ‘double pre-season’ might be a blessing in disguise.
Pessimists might caution of a desperate need for match fitness, which can only be acquired in competitive and consistent matches.
One thing is for sure, though, after a 12-week period with the group, all and sundry would be justified in judging the level and playing style of coach Nabi, as well as his ability to make players believe in his ideas.