Monyane says Chiefs have been given ‘wake-up call’ by MTN8 exit

Defender Thabiso Monyane says Kaizer Chiefs have used their shock MTN8 quarter-final defeat by Golden Arrows as motivation to improve before their next Betway Premiership match.

Monyane played the entire game as Chiefs were beaten 1-0 by Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium on Sunday, ending their hopes of winning the competition and extending the Soweto club’s wait for another MTN8 title.

Chiefs’ last success in the tournament came in 2014, and the latest early exit has increased the pressure on the side to respond quickly in the league.

Monyane believes the disappointment has forced the squad to assess its performance and raise its standards across the pitch.

“The MTN8 loss really tested us as a group, and we have used that as fuel to improve all areas of our game, to sharpen up,” Monyane told the club’s website.

“It has been a wake-up call for all of us, and we are preparing very hard for the Sekhukhune game”

The defender now expects Chiefs to transfer that determination into their next fixture, when they face Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership.

The match will take place at FNB Stadium on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30. Chiefs must therefore put the cup disappointment behind them quickly as they return to league action at the same venue where they were eliminated from the MTN8.

Monyane described Sekhukhune United as a physically demanding and disciplined opponent, warning that Chiefs will need to match their work rate if they are to secure a positive result.

“They are a tough, hard-running team that is well organised, so it will not be easy, but it’s a chance for the boys to put in the work necessary to get a good result and we are going to go for it.”

The fixture gives Amakhosi an immediate opportunity to respond to the defeat by Golden Arrows, while also testing whether the lessons identified from their cup exit can produce an improved performance.

For Chiefs, the focus is now firmly on the league and on recovering from a result that brought another disappointing end to their MTN8 campaign. The club’s long wait for success in the competition will continue, but Monyane says the setback has strengthened the squad’s determination to improve all areas of its game before facing Sekhukhune United.