Kaizer Chiefs are expected to spend big on players to compete with rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates but former midfielder Keagan Dolly has hinted where the value is in recruitment.
Over the past decade, Chiefs have been bringing different personnel, with huge transfer fees, in the name of rebuilding but they have been getting the same results, of inconsistency and average performances.
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Amakhosi were hopeful that their team could finally click with rated coach such as Nasreddine Nabi but the players have struggled to gel together.
What normally brings the team into form is a combination of certain players, whose telepathy drives the squad to be in the same rhythm.
Sundowns usually have this important element, even going back to the 'CBD' days ten years ago, where the combination of Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Dolly inspired Masandawana to their first CAF Champions League crown, among other major honours.
After the former Montpellier midfielder reunited with Billiat and Castro to a limited influence at Chiefs a few seasons ago, he has revealed why his combination, particularly with the Zimbabwean did not need coaching.
"At Ajax, Man United came down for pre-season, I was in the team, they brought the likes of Paul Scholes, Rio (Ferdinand), a few of their big name players and a few of their youngsters, Jesse Lingard was coming through," Dolly said in an interview on The All Rounder SA podcast.
"I was sitting in the dressing room thinking about my first game against United, I had a decent game, that paved the way for me at Ajax, that's the year I met Khama Billiat, the partnership started there.
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"I just understood the way he plays, the way he makes his runs, we connected since then, from there I didn't look back. At first we weren't really friends but on the field we understood each other. He makes it so easy, even if it's a bad pass from you, his first touch is amazing. He might look small in stature but he's very strong, he doesn't lose balls easily. He makes you look good," the Westbury native midfielder added.
The last time Chiefs had an effective and winning team, they did not have to spend much but the scouting of unknown talent such as Knowledge Musona, Simphiwe Tshabalala (signed from a National First Division side) and belief in youngsters such as George Lebese, Mandla Masango, Itumeleng Khune, to mention a few was enough to carry them.
Even though Amakhosi appear to be in need of a personnel upgrade, scouting the right quality players would still be the deciding factor, not necessary the so-called marquee signings.
