Posted in News on Aug 29, 2006.
Kilambe joined his new teammates for his first official training session as a Chiefs player on Tuesday morning and was relentless in his charge towards full fitness, as he did not refrain from getting involved in the thick of battle.
Furthermore Rotson was also present when his new teammates drew with SuperSport United on the opening day of the season on Sunday and he shares his thoughts of the opening game with Kaizerchiefs.com, as well as looking ahead to his new job with the Amakhosi.
KC.COM: Welcome to Kaizer Chiefs Rotson, what are your first impressions of the club as you have been here for just a week?
Rotson Kilambe: Everything has been just as professional as I thought it would be, the way I was cared for since I arrived in Johannesburg through to the way the team accommodated me as well as the reception I got from the other players. I can truly say that Chiefs run a really professional set up and at this point in time I am very happy to be part of this team and am also happy to be part of the great history and traditions of Chiefs. All I can hope for is that over the next two years I can be part of a Championship winning team and have many happy returns here.
KC.COM: Were you surprised that the process towards making you a Chiefs player went so smoothly?
RK: Very surprised I did not think it would go this fast, the thing is that I did not have much time I had to settle in quickly and demonstrate to the coach and his assistant what I am capable of doing first hand, because of the way I gelled with the team I would like to believe that helped motivate the club to sign me quickly. About nine days ago my career faced some uncertainty but I must thank the Almighty for opening up a way and I need to put my best foot forward from this point on wards and ensure that I do the job I was hired for.
KC.COM: A concern for the coach was the fact that you would perhaps need some more time towards regaining full fitness as you had been in active for quite some time. Have you been finding it tough getting back to full fitness?
RK: No not really, I know I am still some way off my fittest levels but at the moment I have been able to cope well with the training systems that I have gone through at Chiefs, the key for me will be to do a lot of work on my own in the gym.
Working out in the gym has kept me fit playing friendly games will help with getting me match fit.
The coach and I have had a word around my fitness and he has said that he will give me the opportunity to play in a couple of friendly games this week and possibly next week as well.
Above all of that I think that when I get a run in a couple of league games I feel I will be able to better judge my fitness, as I said earlier I am working hard at it and will use the friendly games to get match fit.
KC.COM: How have you found Ernst Middendorp’s training methods, have you spoken to the coach as to where you fit into his plans. As well as what his expectations are from you?
RK: For the first couple of days last week I found his training to be very intensive and extremely physically demanding, I think this was so because it was the first couple days of the week or perhaps I was just a bit rusty. Obviously as the game drew closer the training changed and the intensity subsided and it became more and more focused towards the game.
Some of the things are bit different to what I was used to; I must say that I do thoroughly enjoy training sessions with Ernst Middendorp.
When it comes to where I fit in the coaches plans I must say that I have not had a real one on one conversation with him, down the years and with experience I pick up easily as to what a coach needs me to do and what his expectations of me are.
KC.COM: What then does Ernst Middendorp expect from you?
RK: I am a striker and what else can the coach want me to do but score goals and that is what I need to for the team is to score goals and create goal-scoring opportunities. As a player you want to leave every game knowing that you have given your utmost for the teams cause and I know if I help Chiefs gain meaningful results out of every game that I play in than I have been able to fulfil the coaches expectations in me.
KC.COM: What do you make of the talent with in this Chiefs team; do you feel that Chiefs have the ability to seriously contend for the title this season?
RK: From what I saw being at the stadium for the SuperSport game I do think that we have a really good team with some young players who could potentially became great contributors to the teams success over the next few seasons.
I played with Siyabonga Nkosi at Bloemfontein Celtic and he is a really talented player who has kept his fame at bay and that has really helped him progress in becoming one of the best players in the country at the moment.
There are a whole of host of other guys like Shaun Bartlett, Cyril Nzama and David Obua whose experience combined with the exuberance of the younger guys will be a real plus factor for us through out the season.
KC.COM: Finally Rotson, you are probably aware that a couple of seasons ago Collins Mbesuma who is from your home country Zambia set the PSL alight with over thirty goals in a season for Chiefs back in 2004 – 2005. Do you have any plans to follow in his footsteps?
RK: Collins achievements really did a lot to improve the profile of Zambian football and I will definitely take a lead out of his book and if I can emulate his achievements it will be a real honour for me.
