Bafana Bafana defender Given Msimango has no doubt Kaizer Chiefs will rise again, writes Mazola Molefe.

When Given Msimango made his biggest career move yet by departing TS Galaxy for the gold and black of Kaizer Chiefs, little did he know the first year would be such a baptism of fire at the Soweto club.

You cannot blame him for having big dreams – he grew up supporting the AmaKhosi, after all.

The much-talked-about transfer from The Rockets to Naturena suggested he was making an enormous stride, with his now previous chairperson Tim Sukazi in particular arguing the defender would almost immediately be drafted into the Bafana Bafana squad.

And true to form, before he had even kicked a ball as a Chiefs player, he made the cut for one of coach Hugo Broos’ preliminary squads, though he was later dropped when the final 23-man team was announced but was recalled after an injury to replace Grant Kekana.

Msimango joined Amakhosi probably hoping to impress Broos even further, but what awaited him was a rollercoaster ride – first under coach Molefi Ntseki, who was sacked after just 114 days at the helm.

Then Cavin Johnson took over, but it was more of the same … maybe even worse. “Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

We’ve come to an understanding that when you play for such a massive institution, you come under a lot of criticism when things are not going well,” was the lanky defender’s response when he faced the media recently.

“You have to perform when you play for Kaizer Chiefs; you have to bring the results. All we ask for is to maintain the faith and belief in the current crop of players – it’s a new generation. We bring different skill sets to this club and unfortunately, right now, it may not seem so because of the results.”

The 27-year-old had only missed two league matches midway through April, one being Ntseki’s final game as Chiefs coach and the other being the first under Johnson.

Apart from that, he has been ever present, and considering the rich history of the club, he would have been hoping to win trophies, just like any other new player at Chiefs.

A genuine assessment of how Msimango has fared in his maiden campaign at Naturena will likely be overshadowed by yet another barren season for the club. “We are not ignorant to that reality.

For me personally, yes that’s correct. I play football to win and achieve things and leave a legacy for myself, my children and the club as well. I always aspire to achieve those things. But this is a long journey. This disappointment brings us closer together as a team and as a family,” he said.

“We can only grow from such difficulties. I try to not only look at the negative side of things – what everyone is saying about the nine- year trophy drought and so on. We know those things. We are professionals. But slowly we are working to achieving our long-term goal and it will happen.

“I strongly believe that with consistency and hard work all these things will come. But for now, we just need focus on what lies ahead and try to improve on that in the coming months.”

Does he regret his decision to come to Chiefs and not stay at TS Galaxy, who raised the bar this season despite his departure and that of others? “Coming here was a no-brainer for me.

It’s a club I have supported growing up, firstly, and I am not just saying that because I now play here.

My family are Chiefs supporters, so when the opportunity arose to come here it was a no-brainer regardless of who was interested in my services at the time,” said Msimango.

“I come here as a young man who still has a lot of growing to do as a footballer, leader and human being as well. I have found all those things I have been searching for here in this environment. It’s a huge learning process.

“You get to understand what true pressure is when you play for a club where there are deliverables. I have never doubted or had any regrets or second thoughts of me coming here. I was wanted and am really happy to be here.”

Msimango did get to captain Chiefs in an away game at Cape Town City in March, a fixture that ended goalless, with the defender helping Amakhosi keep a clean sheet. But that will not be enough.

“It’s a difficult time for the club, but we are one family and we will become stronger as a team and unit with time. We will try and look past all those things and focus on what we can control to bring the success back at the club,” he added.

Photo by Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix