Chiefs’ Dolly wants to focus on a new era

It was interesting that when Kaizer Chiefs sent out quotes from Keagan Dolly, ahead of their DStv Premiership meeting with Golden Arrows in Hammarsdale on Saturday, no direct mention was made towards departed head coach Molefi Ntseki.

“It has been a tough week for the Club,” was about as far as the attacking midfielder went in the direction of his former mentor’s sacking.

Then again, why would the 30 year-old spend too long dwelling on a coach he barely played for? Injury has disrupted the attacking midfielder’s campaign, to the extent that he only made his first start of the season in what turned out to be Ntseki’s last match, the 1-0 loss to AmaZulu on Saturday in the Carling Knockout last 16.

While Dolly did get a cash bonus of R100 000 as Man-of-the-Match, that was more proof that the supporters still love him than a reward for on-field achievement. Dolly and Chiefs will hope that, under new interim head coach Cavin Johnson, he can start to show the kind of sizzling form that made him such a star at Mamelodi Sundowns.

“Obviously we are disappointed from our last game and not qualifying for the next round of the Carling Cup, but I think this is an important weekend for us. We have to come back and not dwell on the past. If we can win this weekend we can change our mindset and start winning,” said Dolly.

Momentum

“For us as players, we have to do our job, which is to win, to get results for the Club, and for ourselves to build confidence for the rest of the season. I feel there is still a long way to go, and that’s why I think this weekend is very important because a win can give us momentum for the remainder of the season.”

Dolly also had a message for the Chiefs fans, who so richly rewarded him on Saturday, even in defeat. Supporters have been furious this season at Chiefs’ performances in general, and the club faces a stadium ban after their fans pelted Ntseki with missiles for the fourth time this season on Saturday.

“The only way we can (re) assure them is by winning. Every one of us is desperate to win something for our supporters, and we must go out and show that in the results on the pitch,” added Dolly.