A number of players have also been singled out as not 'Chiefs material'. My own

humble submission is that there is no need at all for that.

1. Brief historical background

A mere 3 seasons ago, Kaizer Chiefs embarked on a massive re-building exercise and overhaul of the then 1st team. I do not know if most people have actually taken the time to look at the current team and try to ascertain how many of the players were in the Chiefs 1st team in the 1999/2000 season.

Subject to correction; only 5 players have survived this process! These are Baloyi, Mooki, Pule (fringe player then), Mbuthu and Mabedi (?).

2. So - what's the point?

The point about this is; a whopping 85.7% of the current team is made up of new players to Chiefs. If we believe that Chiefs needs to embark on a new re-building then we must be able to motivate for it. Then we must be able to

say, "look, the re-building that started 3/4 seasons ago hasn't been successful".

However, the facts do not support that view. The re-building has been a roaring success. 7 trophies in the Naturena cabinet later, I reckon this is success.

In simple terms, we all know that the current bunch of players can play winning football from the top drawer. In fact, a few games ago, this team looked like world-beaters. The ability, talent and know-how is there. Why get new players

3. What's the problem then?

Well, simple really. Kaizer Chiefs has not been consistent by any stretch of the imagination. People point out that our problem is in the strike-force. Well, yes and no.

If people are saying that the problem is in our failure to score, then I concur. However, if the assertion is that we lack quality strikers, then my opinion is no. If our strike-force of Musasa, Radebe, Mushangazike, Mkhize, Permall, Richards, Niemach, Sithole and Mushikaro is not good enough, then no

one is.

Most of the above strikers are proven goal-poachers - just not for Chiefs. Simple logic then tells you that something in the Chiefs set-up needs to change.

Recent Chiefs history is littered with players who came here red-hot, but flopped miserably on arrival. Conventional thinking has always been that the pressure here is too much. I don't buy that entirely.

4. So, what's the solution then?

Personally, my biggest problem with the Chiefs set-up is the lack of consistency in the coaching department. This is the reason I was one of the most vocal protesters at the suspension and subsequent letting go of Muhsin (Ertugral).

Again, this guy had proven that he could take the team to the dizziest heights. The argument that he had reached his ceiling is a ridiculous one. Now the DK's are said to be useless when they the kings of the kingdom a few weeks ago.

The sooner we reach maturity as fans and realise that football is cyclical and that EVERY team goes through bad patches, the better our team will be.

Just last season, a global giant like Man Utd had a losing streak where they were being trounced by the likes of Bolton Wanderers 4-1. No heads rolled. This season, Real Madrid was being beaten left, right and centre with the best players in their books. No heads rolled.

We have high standards for the team - but let the players play, let the management manage the team, let the coaches coach and the supporters must support. The vision must be long-term. This bunch players can deliver. They

have proved it. Let's sort out our coaching department and we'll be back up there.

This witch-hunt is helping no one!

NDUMS is a regular Kaizer Chiefs chatterer