Kaizer Chiefs’ gentle giant Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has boldly predicted that the current generation will bring back the glory days that have eluded Amakhosi in the last eight years.
The 25-year-old was still a teenager the last time Chiefs lifted a trophy in 2015. While the club’s supporters were waiting for Chiefs to end the trophy drought, the Botswana international was making his way up the football chain – first, turning professional at Gaborone United in 2018 before moving to Township Rollers and then signing for SuperSport United just before the devastation of Covid-19.
While the world looked like it was coming to an end, Ditlhokwe’s was just beginning – culminating in him joining Amakhosi in July this year. In Chiefs, Ditlhokwe signed for a club that hasn’t given its supporters something to feast on in almost a decade.
But he believes that will change soon, and not just because Chiefs launched their brand of potato chips on Monday.
“If you worry too much, and you stress yourself about what has happened, and what hasn’t happened [then you will struggle],” said Dithokwe in a calm and measured tone at the club’s headquarters in Naturena.
“The most important thing is the road that will take you [towards success]. It’s not about what you want, you can have the will to win but if you don’t have what it takes to win, then that will remain a dream which will not manifest. It’s all about focusing on what can take you there. As you can see, the Chiefs that started the first game and the Chiefs you are seeing now – there is an improvement, and that is the road that will take us back to the glory days.”
Standing in the way of Chiefs will be Cape Town City. Amakhosi will host the Citizens at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening. Chiefs recorded their first win of the season against City in the MTN8 in August, but were brought crashing down by TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership a week after that victory.
And that’s been the story of Amakhosi this season, gaining confidence with a morale-boosting win but instead of building on that, crashing down soon after – resulting in supporters baying for coach Molefi Ntseki’s blood.
Ditlhokwe, who has played every minute of Chiefs’ league campaign, has had a front-row seat to that rollercoaster ride. But he remains optimistic, crediting the work sport psychologist Dr. Henning Gericke has played in bringing about that positive mindset in him and his teammates.
Ntseki is also wearing this positive mindset despite the pressure he is under and his turbulent relationship with the supporters. The former Bafana Bafana coach says that everyone at the club has been supportive during this trying time.
“The good thing is that we don’t entertain negativity which really helps,” Ntseki said.
“Because if you do, you end up dwelling too much into negativity and you end up doubting yourself and your abilities. Even if you have lost a game, we will always look at the positives. That is the support that I am getting from everybody, saying we had a good game but we couldn’t win and the next game is more important than the last one.” Sourced: Kaizer Chiefs finally give their supporters something to feast | Sport (news24.com)