Ngcobo feels pain of inconsistent season for Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs' Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has conceded that their league slump has been frustrating. He added that their mentality has also been challenged by losing games they're least expected to lose, while they do relatively better when odds are stacked against them.

Chiefs have already lost 10 league games this season, making it difficult to tip them to even finish in the top eight by the end of the season. The indifferent Amakhosi, who've never won three games in a row this season and winless in their last five league games, next host Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

“This period is very challenging and frustrating but I really believe this is part and parcel of being at a big team like Chiefs. We need to know how to manage situations like this and the only way to do it is to win our games,'' Ngcobo told Sowetan.

Amakhosi, who are in the Nedbank Cup final, where they will face bitter foes Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 12, have lost to lowly teams like Richards Bay and Golden Arrows among others this season, while beating high-flying teams like Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch among others, putting the side's mentality into question. 

“You can say that mentally we've struggled to treat the games equally but we go to each and every game wanting to win, same mentality but sometimes we unfortunately lose those games [against lowly teams] and win the ones perceived to be more difficult,'' Ngcobo said.

Amid Amakhosi's league struggles, some have questioned the team's quality as far as the playing personnel is concerned. Coach Nasreddine Nabi has also had his credentials questioned. Even so, Ngcobo has backed Nabi, emphasising that they also have a competent squad.

“This current squad is more than capable of challenging for top honours and I think that was evident at the start of the season, where we were unbelievable, scoring goals left, right and centre and teams knew that it was difficult to beat us. However, we have since been struggling to maintain consistency; that's our biggest problem,'' Ngcobo stated.

“We're a team and we are in this together. We will continue to fight together as a team. We have faith in our technical team, there's no doubt about that.''

Fixtures

Saturday: Chiefs v Marumo, FNB (3pm); Polokwane v SuperSport, Old Peter Mokaba (3pm); Arrows v AmaZulu, Mpumalanga (3pm)

Sunday: Galaxy v Sekhukhune (3.30pm)

Wednesday (all 7.30pm): Stellenbosch v Chippa, Danie Craven; Sundowns v Bay, Loftus; Pirates v Sekhukhune

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