Legend compares Chiefs to Real Madrid and Barcelona

Retired Kaizer Chiefs midfielder and legend Stanton Fredericks has likened his former club to Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Now a television pundit with SuperSport TV, Fredericks believes Chiefs are experiencing a slump just like many other football clubs in the world.

Reviewing the club’s disastrous campaign according to Chiefs standards, the legend also known as ‘Stiga’ has called on the club’s hierarchy and technical team to be honest in their introspection.

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The former Bafana Bafana midfielder’s assessment comes as Chiefs failed to end the unwanted trophy drought that has dragged on for eight years.

FREDERICKS COMPARES CHIEFS TO MADRID AND BARCELONA

Back in his day, Fredericks was a fan favourite at Naturena and he doesn’t want to point fingers at the players or coach Arthur Zwane but urged the fans to rally behind the side.

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Under coach Zwane, Chiefs reached the semi-finals of the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup but managed a fifth-place finish in the DStv Premiership.

Speaking to SABC Sport, the television analyst argues that going through challenges can happen to any football club and Chiefs are no exception.

“Even a marketing campaign in terms of patience for the coach needs to be prepared to say, ‘This is no different to any other situation in the world,'” explained Fredericks.

“Barcelona goes through a dip, Real Madrid goes through a dip, Juventus went through a dip, Kaizer Chiefs are a massive team and they’re going through a dip.

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“And now is when you need you fans – not just supporters, your fans. You [need to] say, ‘Listen guys, we understand the situation, we have a former player that understands the culture, he’s got the qualifications, let’s get behind him.’

“I think that’s a massive help for the coach himself. But, all in all, the quality needs to improve in terms of what he has at his disposal, and then he can certainly be judged properly.”

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While the Soweto giants have already signed Given Msimango and Thatayaone Dilthokwe from TS Galaxy and SuperSport United respectively, the legend believes the club must bring more quality.

He praised midfielders Siyethemba Sithebe and Yusuf Maart but feels Zwane and his technical bench must look for playmakers and out-and-out wingers.

“But there definitely needs to be a lot more names that must be thrown into the pot, especially in the middle of the park,” he added.

“We’ve got three grafters – the young [Samkelo] Zwane is one of the special talents there, but let him be a supplement.

“We’ve got a [Siyethemba] Sithebe that’s hard-working, a [Yusuf] Maart that’s hard-working, [so] we need playmakers in that midfield, and we need out-and-out wingers that will take players on.”

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