Kaizer Chiefs' current state of affairs has left former midfielder Jabulani Mendu pondering whether the club has lost their shine as the Glamour Boys of South African football.
Amakhosi are in shambles with the team's uninspiring performances which have led to fans fearing for a third season without silverware.
Chiefs have lost two matches, drawn three and won just two so far this season. Mendu feels the team will continue to feel the ire of the fans if they do not turn things around soon.
"When it comes to Chiefs you wonder a number of things; is that prestige still there? Do opponents fear them anymore," Mendu wondered in an interview with Sowetan.
"That presence is no more there. At the moment anyone can don the Chiefs jersey, whereas in the past you needed to be damn good to be at Naturena."
He said Amakhosi's overdependence on Siphiwe Tshabalala and Willard Katsande was also worrisome.
"If Shabba [Tshabalala] is the best player there that tells you a lot that something is not right. They are lacking creativity and defensively they will need to improve.
"If your leading goal scorer last season is a midfield anchor [Katsande] then that is not good enough.
"We are talking Kaizer Chiefs here; where is that swagger, where is that flair?"