Marks Maponyane is still held in high esteem, not only for the unmatched 85 goals he scored during a career that lasted for a decade with the Glamour Boys, but because of his professionalism on and off the pitch.

It is the same professionalism that has seen the Meadowlands born former striker succeeding in his television career and other pursuites. Having won the league a couple of times with the Phefeni Glamour Boys, he spoke to kaizerchiefs.com about the chances of the Club winning the Absa Premiership this season.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Mafa, thanks for taking time and talk to us. What do you make of the Club’s performances this season?

Marks Maponyane: I think the team has done fairly well this season winning the Telkom Knockout in style in December. They now have an outside chance to also win the Absa Premiership.

My worry is consistency; Great teams do not have home, away games and small or big games. If you look at a team like Barcelona this season, they have won home and away beating both small and big teams. Consistency is key in winning the championship.

Reputation cannot win you games. Supporters cannot win you games but they can help you to win. Players should realise that they still need to go all out to win games regardless of the opposition. Chiefs have dropped points they were not supposed to drop and that is cause for concern.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Do you think we have a good enough squad to challenge for league honours?

Marks Maponyane: Chiefs started the season without the services of Tinashe Nengomasha, Valery Nahayo and at some stage players like Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane have been out but the Club has gone on to win games. This to me is a sign of a good team.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Are you dismissing the talk about the lack of depth in the team?

Marks Maponyane: I think the fact that Chiefs were still able to collect maximum points without some of the above mentioned players is the sign of availability of depth in the team. The concern with Chiefs has not been depth this season but consistency.

There is no doubt that Chiefs should have collected maximum points against Free State Stars, Vasco Da Gama including Celtic in Bloemfontein. That is a total of 7 points and with 7 points Chiefs will count a lot at the end of the season.

Kaizerchiefs.com: What in your opinion does Chiefs need to do to win the league this season?

Marks Maponyane: Win, win, win and win! Chiefs need to avoid losing games because at this stage of the season it is tougher and every game counts. It is better to draw to win games 1-0 that you should have lost or get a single point.

Chiefs also need to guard against conceding soft goals like they did against Free State Stars in December. Focus from the start to the last minute is very important in any championship winning side.

Kaizerchiefs.com: What is one thing that stands out for you in the team this season?

Marks Maponyane: The ability to bounce back after they have lost a game is one thing that has stood out for me. When Chiefs lost against Free State Stars they went on to win three games in a row against Bidvest Wits, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Chiefs’ strikers Kaizer Motaung JR, Sthembiso Ngcobo, Knowledge Musona have all been scoring recently. What do you make of the firepower the team has this season?

Marks Maponyane: I am contending but not overwhelmed. Musona is like Pedro at Barcelona, you still need a player like David Villa to score regularly. It has been good to see Kaizer and Ngcobo scoring but until recently they have not been scoring as much as they should. Hopefully they can keep the goals coming and that can make a difference between a team that wins a championship and the one that comes second.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Tshabalala has also chipped in with goals. How important was for the team to retain his services after the January transfer window?

Marks Maponyane: Very important! He gives the team mobility and scores crucial goals. He is a plus factor for the team.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Chiefs did not play last weekend a now have a game at hand...

Marks Maponyane: A game at hand does not always translate into points in the bag! I remember vividly when we needed a point back in 1987 to win the league. We had four games to play but we lost all of them including a game against Bush Bucks. Chiefs will still need to go out and win their games.

Kaizerchiefs.com: Mafa, thank you for your frank views. It is always a pleasure talking to you.

Marks Maponyane: I am a football person and I watch football all the time. I am always available talking to kaizerchiefs.com and give my honest views about developments in football.

Thanks and good luck!