Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung who turned 78 on Sunday shared a powerful message with the Amakhosi squad during the celebrations around his birthday.
The club was hosting a celebration in honour of their founder and chairman, with every staff member, including management, technical team and the players present.
After several representatives from different departments, including head coach Arthur Zwane and captain Itumeleng Khune shared their wishes with Kaizer Motaung, the chairman himself sent a message to the players, urging them to play the beautiful game with their minds switched on at all times.
“My advice to you, you must always make sure, when you get onto the field, whether it’s training or a match, you must always be a winner, you must always think to be a winner,” he said, in a video shared on social media.
“The only way you can succeed is if you believe you’re a winner, because that gives strength. Psychologically, the game is won up here (points at head). Whatever you execute on the field will depend on your frame of mind.
Get unlimited, fast 5G home wifi. Delivered to you fast from rain.co.za!
“Whatever you do, even when you go to training now, you must always think. I was very fortunate of the coaches that I had when I was still playing, I learned a lot, but one thing that always stuck to my mind was one coach instilled in me, the belief that everything that I do on the field starts heart.
“if it’s not here, you can’t be strong on the field of play. That is why when we play a game, it’s like chess. Chess player want to touch the ball, already deciding that is going to counter them.
“Football is like that. If your mind is right, you’ll always think ahead of your own qualities and everything starts here.
“When you miss a goal, you realise it started just before I got to the ball, I hadn’t made up my mind, I was just forced to hit the ball. So it tells you that everything starts here.
“I used to have a coach who used to always say you need to think. What makes you a better player than all the other players – I played against Pele in America, that man, his eyes were like everywhere. Before he even toughed the ball he already knew where the opponents were because he thought before – that’s what I’m trying to tell you, everything starts here.”
Motaung also insisted that he believes in the strength of the current squad under Zwane, despite their 2-1 defeat to Chippa United a day before his birthday.
“My message to you, despite what happened on Saturday, you are not going to win all the game. I’m saying to you I’m still full of confidence, I still believe in all of you,” he added.
“We stand here today, we could be at the top of the log, if we had just won that game. When you get to the top, it’s not easy to stay there but it’s also an advantage because those who come to you are more competitive, from a position of weakness.
“Anyway, good luck and let’s move forward.”
Chiefs returns to action on Wednesday, when they will host TS Galaxy at the FNB Stadium at 19:30.
