“Not Good Enough”: Ex-Bafana Captain Criticises Kaizer Chiefs’ League Finish

Kaizer Chiefs may have ended a decade-long trophy drought with their recent Nedbank Cup triumph. However, club legend Neil Tovey believes that doesn’t make up for what has been another underwhelming season. The former Bafana Bafana captain, who once wore the armband at Naturena, has voiced his disappointment. He is concerned over the club’s continued failure to finish inside the Betway Premiership’s top eight.

Cup Glory Doesn’t Paint the Full Picture

Earlier this month, the Soweto side finally lifted silverware after ten years, beating Orlando Pirates in a tightly contested Nedbank Cup final. The victory provided a much-needed morale boost for fans and players alike. However, Tovey remains sceptical about the bigger picture. Despite the cup success, Chiefs ended the domestic league season outside the top eight for the second year running. This is a situation Kaizer Chiefs believes simply isn’t acceptable for a club of their stature.

Tovey Slams League Inconsistency

Tovey, who spent a significant part of his playing career at Chiefs in the 1990s, believes that the team’s low league finish should be a major concern. In his view, success cannot be measured by a single cup run. Meanwhile, the team fails to perform consistently in the league.

“Winning a knockout competition doesn’t suddenly make it a good season,” he said in comments to the media. “A club like Chiefs should be in the top three, competing strongly throughout the campaign.”

He stressed that the Betway Premiership standings provide a more accurate reflection of a team’s strength and direction. For Tovey, a 10th-place finish—just as Kaizer Chiefs ended last season—is far from good enough.

Patience Wearing Thin as Pressure Builds

New coach Nasreddine Nabi, who took over at the start of the campaign, has been appealing to the club’s supporters to give him time. He aims to implement his vision. But with another season of inconsistency in the league, pressure is beginning to mount. While the Nedbank Cup was a bright moment, many feel that one trophy cannot compensate for a season of missed opportunities.

Tovey suggested that several factors contributed to the team’s underperformance. “Everyone must take responsibility—the coaching staff, the players, and even those making decisions behind the scenes,” he said. “The league is the real test, not just one or two games in a cup.”

A Trophy Doesn’t Erase a Poor Campaign

Chiefs’ cup success was undeniably a milestone, especially after ten years without lifting any silverware. Still, Tovey emphasised that this shouldn’t be used to mask what he described as another season of disappointment.

He highlighted that Kaizer Chiefs have historically been a team known for regularly collecting trophies and maintaining a strong league presence.

“It’s unusual for them to go years without winning anything. Normally, they recover quickly. But even with this trophy, the overall standard hasn’t improved where it matters most—the league table.”

Kaizer Chiefs Needs Urgent Fixes

With another season gone by and only a cup to show for it, the calls for change at Chiefs are growing louder. Fans and former players alike are demanding a return to the club’s former glory, where competing for the league title was non-negotiable.

Tovey’s message is clear: consistency and long-term planning must be prioritised if Kaizer Chiefs are to reclaim their spot among the country’s elite. One cup win is a start, but it won’t be enough to satisfy the expectations of the supporters. The club must also restore the dominance they once enjoyed.

Also read: No Top 8 for Amakhosi: Kaizer Chiefs End Season in Disappointment