Muchichwa warns Kaizer Chiefs they cannot afford inconsistency

Former Kaizer Chiefs player Robson Muchichwa says the club’s current squad must deliver in every match rather than selecting the occasions when they perform.

Kaizer Chiefs responded strongly to their recent CAF Confederation Cup disappointment by beating TS Galaxy 3-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup last 16 at FNB Stadium. The emphatic victory came only days after Fernando Da Cruz’s side were eliminated in a painful penalty shootout.

Expectations were low before the meeting with the Rockets, with many anticipating that the cup exit would affect Chiefs. Instead, they produced a commanding display and put the tie beyond doubt, with Muchichwa believing the team showed what it can achieve when it rises to the demands of a major fixture.

The former Zimbabwean international said the players now needed to reproduce that level of performance in the league, where results carry greater importance for the club’s long-term ambitions.

“We are happy as Chiefs supporters about the win; the only low is that it happened in a cup game. The league is more important, as it enables a club a chance to compete in the CAF Champions League. We judge a good team by their league performance,” Muchichwa told KickOff.

He pointed to Magesi’s contrasting fortunes as evidence that success in a knockout competition does not necessarily reflect a team’s overall strength.

“Magesi won the cup and got relegated because a cup game is anybody’s game. It’s gambling. Right now, all we’re hoping for is for Chiefs to repeat that performance in their next league match.”

Consistency remains the concern

Muchichwa believes inconsistency has been a longstanding weakness for Kaizer Chiefs, with supporters struggling to predict which version of the team will appear from one match to the next.

“If you are playing for Chiefs and you are choosing games you perform in, then you are in the wrong place because to Chiefs fans, every game means a lot. Right now, a Chiefs fan cannot tell you what to expect in their next game because their players are not consistent.”

He added that the club’s current form has left supporters without realistic expectations of a title challenge.

“So, if you are not going to challenge for the league, then I think you don’t have a good team,” he added.

Kaizer Chiefs will have an immediate opportunity to show whether their victory over TS Galaxy can be followed by another strong performance when they face arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership.

The Soweto derby will be played at FNB Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30.