Kaizer Chiefs have experienced their worst-ever form after slipping down to sixth place in the Betway Premiership standings.
Four consecutive defeats have raised tensions around the club. A group of frustrated supporters went as far as staging a protest at Naturena over the continued presence of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
KAIZER CHIEFS LEGEND SENDS STRONG MESSAGE
The club’s former talisman, Gould, believes bad moments are part of football, but they also reveal character.
The former Amakhosi defender pointed to Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr’s recent comments, where he publicly admitted the team’s performance, particularly against Orlando Pirates, had been “embarrassing”.
“You can’t predict a purple (rough) patch; when it comes, it comes, you know, a saying that ‘when it rains, it pours’, it seems to be like that,” Gould said on the club’s radio channel. “But I also like that the SD (Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr) has given the guys confidence, you need to be a straight shooter.
“That’s what he did, he made it clear, he put a mandate out, they know what is at stake. You know this brings out a lot of characters. Now you know who the soldiers are, now you know who the folders are. You make sure that you put the difference between the soldiers and the folders.
Gould added that if there were more “folders” than committed players, Kaizer Chiefs would have a problem. He predicted that many soldiers, both young and experienced, would step up in the squad. He added that dwelling on past performances was pointless, calling them “water under the bridge,” and stressed that the focus now was on rebuilding and going full throttle.
CONTRACTS AND PRIDE NOW ON THE LINE
Gould also reminded the current squad that the closing months of the season can determine their future at Kaizer Chiefs.
“Face the slump, you know that your contract is coming up, put in a shift, you know that it’s negotiation time, put in a shift, because the team won’t reward you if you don’t do the business,” Gould said.
“Now it’s the time to stand up, we’re no longer in development where we’ll nurse you, this is a Kaizer Chiefs team that wants to achieve big things. This is the mentality that starts now because your pre-season starts now, it’s how you end the season,” Gould added.
The Soweto giants will return to Betway Premiership action on Sunday when they host Durban City at FNB Stadium.
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