Malatsi urges Kaizer Chiefs players to show commitment against Red Arrows

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabiso “Skapie” Malatsi has called on the club’s players to improve their performances and demonstrate greater respect for the badge in Friday’s CAF Confederation Cup second-leg match against Red Arrows.

Malatsi believes the squad must show more commitment as Kaizer Chiefs seek to secure qualification for the next round of the competition. He also said the team’s recent displays and results were unlikely to have pleased club chairman Dr Kaizer Motaung.

“I have a problem with most of the players in the current Kaizer Chiefs squad, and they need to seriously improve to get to the level required to play for such a big club and to show that they respect the badge,” Malatsi told the Siya crew.

Dr Kaizer Motaung’s birthday was last week, and Malatsi said the players should have been motivated to produce a performance that would make the chairman proud.

“Look, it was the chairman, Dr Kaizer Motaung’s birthday just last week, and you would expect the players to fight out there on the field to make the chairman happy. You don’t see it happening, and you ask yourself questions about their commitment,” he said.

Malatsi added that the team’s results had caused disappointment rather than celebration, and urged the squad to change that situation.

“Instead of making the chairman happy, I think they are hurting him with the kind of performances and results they have been getting. I can imagine how he must be feeling,” he said.

The former midfielder said players from previous generations had viewed performing for the chairman as an important responsibility, and encouraged the current squad to adopt the same approach.

“I appeal to the guys to do it for the chairman and make him happy. That can’t be too much to ask for, please, gents. That’s what we also used to do when we played for the team, and what all the former players before and after our generation did – play for the chairman to make him happy.”

Kaizer Chiefs will host Red Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie on Friday, with qualification for the next round their immediate priority.

Malatsi also pointed to the upcoming Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates, saying victory in that fixture should provide another incentive for the players to perform for the chairman.

“The Soweto Derby is also approaching, and it should be the goal for the Chiefs players to make sure that they beat Pirates for the chairman. But first, they need to win their next match to make sure that they qualify for the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup.”