Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has opened up on his exit from the Amakhosi and insisted the expectations of the club’s fans are too high.
Mphahlele, 32, was one of several players released by Chiefs during the current transfer window, as the club is attempting a revamp in order to finally end their seven-year long trophy drought.
He has since joined AmaZulu and has now discussed his Amakhosi exit, revealing that at first he thought he would still remain at the club and when his release was eventually confirmed he needed a break to come to terms with the situation.
“We had talks and the plan was for me to stay at the club for a little bit longer,” said Mphahlele when he was asked by iDiski Times why Chiefs changed their decision not to offer him a new deal.
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“But there’s this revival that they are trying to refresh the team, trying to bring in new players, youngsters. Honestly speaking, if you want to win in football, you can’t keep on going the same way. I have been there for six years and there were no trophies won.
“They had to make a decision, but not only me, but [Daniel] Cardoso, Leo Castro, Bernard [Parker], all these players, Chiefs had to make a decision and we had to accept the decision.
“When the situation happened [being released], I said to myself, let me take a break from this thing because there’s a lot of noise. So I just pulled out of the crowd and went with my own space. When I was okay, I said now I can start training.
“But it is an issue for me that at the age of 32, 33 and that is where you actually enjoy your football most but people [in SA] start to say you are old. Look at Thiago Silva is playing, James Milner is playing at Liverpool and Fernandinho was playing at Manchester City last season.”
Mphahlele has also addressed the high expectations at his former club where fans seem to want to see change too fast at times, with some already turning their backs on newly-apppointed head coach Arthur Zwane.
“In football, building takes time. Even in construction, it takes time and change at Kaizer Chiefs is not going to come fast as they want to. It’s going to take a bit of time and unfortunately I know Chiefs fans don’t have that patience.
“This is not a lottery where you can pick the number you win. You have to prepare the team and the philosophy going.”
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