Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has spoken out in defense of the club's reliance on young players, addressing concerns about the pressure being placed on the current crop of talent at Naturena.
With the team featuring several younger players this season, there has been increasing talk about whether the club is putting too much pressure on them to deliver results.
In a passionate response, Khumalo pointed out that the inclusion of youngsters in the first team is not something new or detrimental. He drew from his own experience, recalling his early days at Chiefs, where he was also thrust into a high-pressure environment.
"With the youngsters, they are fielding them so it looks as if they are putting them under pressure – but why would you think they are putting pressure on them? If that was the case, then what did they do to me? Would you say they put pressure on me in my first game against Pirates? No. It was growth for me," Khumalo told journalists at a Castle Lager event in Johannesburg.
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The legendary midfielder explained that his journey, like those of the young Chiefs players, was a process of growth. Khumalo's early career at Chiefs marked the beginning of a golden era for the club, and he firmly believes that today's youngsters will also develop and eventually succeed.
"These boys will grow, slowly but surely," Khumalo added.
However, he acknowledged that the growth of these young players cannot be achieved in isolation. He emphasized that success at Chiefs is a collective responsibility, not just resting on the shoulders of the coach or management, but also on the supporters.
"This cannot be achieved only by the people at the Village, I'm talking about the coach, the players, and the management. It's a collective thing, even the supporters need to play their role," he said.
Khumalo also took a swipe at negative online discourse, which has seen many fans and media outlets criticise the team's younger players.
"And those who are using podcasts that are ill-reporting things, saying things and I'm asking why do you have to do that? Why do you have to tarnish somebody's name and use him as a ladder?"
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In his call for support, Khumalo appealed to fans to limit the negativity surrounding the team, urging them to be more understanding of the club's transition phase.
"These young boys, they have gadgets. The supporters put them under pressure. Just limit the negative things that you say on social media and you will see. It's not a tragedy, it's a phase that Kaizer Chiefs are going through and it's not Nabi, Kaizer Jr, Bobby or the Chairman himself."
"I'm part of the generation that was started underage, and what happened to me? I never thought I would be an AFCON champion or play overseas. And if it was not for Kaizer Chiefs, I wouldn't have achieved that, especially the supporters. Supporters mean a lot. They carry a lot of weight," he reflected.
