Stanton 'Stiga' Fredericks urges Kaizer Chiefs to back Arthur Zwane with quality signings

By his own admission, Zwane has said the 2022/23 season – his first at the helm – was underwhelming for a club the size of Amakhosi.

Fredericks, who was a teammate of Zwane at Chiefs during their playing days, doesn’t think there was enough done in the transfer market.

"I think they've realised that a refresh needs to happen. As much as they've brought in players last season, I think not all of them have met the grade and that speaks to the results of the season. I think there needs to be better quality at Kaizer Chiefs we can make it sound as nice as we want to. I don't believe that you can achieve with the quality that's there," he said.

Fredericks uses rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates to drive home his point about squad depth and the benefits thereof.

"There needs to be much more in that squad. Look at the team like Orlando Pirates now, when you speak about depth you speak about Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. Now they [Orlando Pirates] find themselves winning two cups and at the second position," he explained.

"I think in terms of Kaizer Chiefs and Mathoho [Eric] going out, it shows that the intention is to bring in other players and hopefully that is the quality of the team."

One of the highlights for Zwane this season was the introduction of young players, among them attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala.

But ‘Stiga’ argues he’s too inexperienced to carry the team.

"But that's a youngster that must come in and supplement what you have. You cannot ask that youngster to come in and carry the team. When Jabu Pule made his debut at the Vodacom Cup I wasn't playing for Kaizer Chiefs but he supplemented what they had."