Are Kaizer Chiefs ‘umlilo wamaphepha’ or the real deal?
The flying start that Kaizer Chiefs have got to this season has their fans purring and old rivals sweating.
Kaizer Chiefs players celebrate winning during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs at Lucas Moripe Stadium . (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
But there is still something that makes some think Amakhosi are not really what champions are made of. There is still a lingering doubt about whether they can maintain this great momentum they have built.
There are some who believe their form is just umlilo wamaphepha (paper fire) – which refers to something that threatens to be big and devastating only to wilt as soon as it started, just like a fire when you add some paper to it.
But beating Sundowns has got to be a good sign that this might just be the real thing. It is not only that they beat Sundowns, but the way they did it that makes them credible contenders in this season.
If one were to compare the football to a Marathon, Sundowns would be five kilometres ahead of everyone else. That’s how far Sundowns are in terms of everything a club needs to succeed.
But Chiefs are catching up. It is just that their form picked up earlier than anticipated. It usually takes longer than six months for a new coach to get the team going. Ernst Middendorp has done it in six months – perhaps it comes with the 25 years of experience that he has under his belt.
Perhaps this is the reason someone like Pitso Mosimane is unable to comprehend how Chiefs have become such a force so suddenly.
I think all doubts about Amakhosi’s credibility will be erased should they give another gallant performance and beat Orlando Pirates in the consecutive Soweto derbies lined up for the next two weekends.
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