As coach of Kaizer Chiefs, one of Molefi Ntseki's biggest tasks in the coming season is to make sure that the signings Amakhosi have made, do not end up like the many they have brought in over the last few years.
This is always an exciting period for Amakhosi supporters, as the club has made it a habit of going into the market to bring in five or more players. If you go back to see how many players the club has signed since 2015, the last time they won a title, you will see how the club has just not been able to get it right with their acquisitions.
At times, I believe, it's not been a case of getting it wrong with the acquisitions. Many of the players Chiefs have signed were quality and could have made a difference at the club, but there are quite a few factors that have somehow led to the regression of many individuals at the club.
For example, the Khama Billiat we saw at Chiefs was not the same player who dazzled the opposition at Mamelodi Sundowns. The Leonardo Castro who was at Chiefs was nowhere near the one we saw at Sundowns. Ramahlwe Mphahlele could not rediscover his good form from Sundowns, while Njabulo Ngcobo has regressed since winning the DStv Premiership Defender of the Season award at Swallows FC. Just last season, Amakhosi brought in Zitha Kwinika who did quite well at his previous club Stellenbosch, but he was not able to show the same quality at Naturena.
How is it that so many players who were once doing well can regress so much in their careers? It doesn't make sense.
There is obviously a lot of pressure at Chiefs and the trophy drought is making it worse for players who perhaps can't handle it. Players have not been able to deliver under pressure at Chiefs and coaches, for whatever reason, have not been able to take the game of individuals to new levels.
Chiefs have signed some good players in Given Msimango and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, two defenders who were important. The challenge Ntseki has with them, and all of Amakhosi's other signings, is to ensure he takes their game to another level and work on how they deal with the pressure of playing for a club where demands are often so high. It's going to be a big period for Ntseki as coach and this is where he has to prove that he can improve the players the club has brought in and also bring them the silverware they so desire.
