Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Daniel "Massaro" Matsau has identified what he believes is the main cause of the club’s long-standing trophy drought.
Amakhosi have been unable to win a cup for close on nine years now despite employing the services of not less than six coaches during that period.
Matsau says the pressure that the players are put under by the fans is what makes them scared to take risks on the field.
"This thing of having played more than eight years without winning a cup has put some of their new players under immense pressure," Matsau tells KickOff.
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"This drought has put a lot of pressure on the players and the coaches. When a situation is like this, you are bound to panic. Everyone can see that at the moment Chiefs players are panicking, they don't want to make mistakes on the pitch, they want to be perfect on the pitch because they want to win at all costs.
"If only the coaches and the players could be allowed to do as they wish on the pitch and not be afraid to try new things, something will come up.
"They’ve got the players, Chiefs. Our strikers, they are good, it's just that sometimes it takes time for players to gel. And what makes things worse is the supporters who are fighting, throwing stuff at them, not allowing them time to gel," he says.
As a former player himself, Matsau provides insight on what goes on in a player's mind when his team's fans are constantly on his back.
No player goes to the game to lose, they also want to win something. So, instead of supporting them and giving them courage, the Chiefs fans are adding even more pressure to their players and coach instead.
"What the supporters are doing makes the Chiefs players afraid to take risks on the pitch. They are afraid to make mistakes. It's difficult for a player who is afraid to make mistakes to shoot from outside the box.
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"At the moment, Chiefs players are even scared to miss chances, everyone wants to be on the safe side and say, it's not me who missed the goal, I did give him a pass and he missed," Matsau adds.
On Saturday, the Glamour Boys visit the unpredictable Cape Town City in what promises to be an exciting DStv Premiership clash at Athlone Stadium. Kick-off is at 15:30.
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