Tefu Mashamaite blames 'discontinued traditions' for Kaizer Chiefs’ decline

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite has pointed to the deterioration of long-standing traditions at the club as a key factor behind their failure to meet expectations in recent seasons.

Although Chiefs have shown signs of progress and currently sit fifth on the log, criticism has continued to mount following a series of underwhelming campaigns. Much of the frustration stems from the sustained success and structural growth of rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, who have set the benchmark over the past few years.

Given that Chiefs had missed out on a top-eight finish in the previous two seasons, merely breaking back into that bracket would have marked significant improvement.  However, a strong start to the current campaign raised expectations, with the team appearing capable of mounting a more serious challenge. 

That early promise has since faded, as a dip in form exposed lingering weaknesses, leaving many supporters struggling to accept the reality of how far the club still has to go to close the gap on their rivals.

Mashamaite, who was part of the successful Chiefs side under Stuart Baxter that won league titles in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons — the club’s last — reflected on what set that era apart. He highlighted the experience and individual quality within the squad as crucial elements of their dominance.

 “If you look at the quality of players we had, there were players that played at the World Cup in 2010, with the likes of Itumeleng Khune and Simphiwe Tshabalala.Mashamaite said on Soccerbeat.

"You had myself, and I used to be captain for Bidvest Wits, and Tower (Eric Mathoho), who was young and up-and-coming, and Bernard Parker, who had played overseas. 

“If you look at that quality, the coach just had to come in and manage the players. We had a great man-manager in Stuart Baxter, and he was able to create a great environment, and that is why we were where we were.”

The former SuperSport United defender believes that a departure from the club’s traditions has significantly contributed to their struggles, particularly the lack of standout individuals capable of leading the team.

“It’s down to discontinuing traditions. I do not know what the cause of that is, because if you look back over the years, Chiefs always had a number of players who represented the national team, whether it was Brian Baloyi or Lucas Radebe.

“But if you look at the past two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, we didn’t have good representation. I do not know what happened between 2015 and now, but certain traditions were discontinued, and the management needs to look into that.

“Chiefs have always produced top-class goalkeepers, centre-backs and strikers. There is a need to revisit old traditions in how things were done.”

Mashamaite also acknowledged how Sundowns have redefined standards in South African football, with Pirates working hard to keep pace. Both clubs’ ambitions have been reflected in their growing influence within the Bafana Bafana setup, raising questions about where Chiefs currently stand despite their reputed development structures.

“You look at the environment, everything has changed. Sundowns just took it to the next level with the investments they have made; they changed the complexion of the game completely.

“They started targeting Caf, because it is no longer enough to just win the league title; you have to go into Caf and dominate. Pirates started levelling up, and you ask yourself what Chiefs did in terms of going into the market and getting the right quality.”

Mashamaite also weighed in on Baxter’s recent claims of management interference, suggesting it could explain the club’s decline if proven true.

“If it’s true that there was interference during Baxter’s second stint, then that could be one of the reasons things have gone wrong. If management influences team selection and recruitment, they must also take responsibility when results don’t go the team’s way."

* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch