Chiefs star Dolly says ‘coaching’ on the field comes naturally

One of the criticisms that Kaizer Chiefs star midfielder Keagan Dolly has endured this season is coaching of the other players while on the field. 

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It is a role that any captain should do. But Dolly admits that he has noted that he sometimes overdoes it and forgets about his own game. 

“Look, sometimes I don’t think that I am doing that. It just comes naturally,” says Dolly when asked about it on Thursday. 

“Maybe it is because I am more of a team first then me as an individual kind of player. 

“I always say that if the team does well, everyone will shine – individuals will shine at the end of the day. 

“I know sometimes I focus too much on helping my teammates and I forget that I should play my own game,” he adds.

Dolly is perhaps a winner and hates it when he feels other players are slacking and tries to urge them on. 

He says he does it because he puts the team and the required result ahead of everything else when on the field. 

“I am here for the team and I am here to help each and everyone. At the end of the day it is a team sport. 

It is about the team, says Dolly

“It is not about Keagan and what I can bring. If we all put in effort and work together, I think we can then achieve our goals. 

“I know there are a few times where it looked like I am more focused on trying to help others.

“But I think that is what I am here for. I try to make everyone part of the team and put in the effort.” 

With club captain Itumeleng Khune not a regular this season, the team’s captaincy has gone to Dolly. 

It is a huge responsibility but one Dolly says he enjoys it as he leads a team of players he says are hard workers.

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Chiefs have constantly come under fire from their own supporters because of unsatisfactory results.

“I know it is their right to judge our performances but there is no player who goes out onto the field not wanting to do their best. 

‘It hurts when we lose’

“I feel that every player who has played for this club has tried their level best,” he says of the criticism. 

“I know sometimes we might not give them the result that they want, but if they feel that, imagine how we feel on the field… 

“We are the ones who go out there, sacrificing and leaving our families at home to get out there and try to do our best. 

“But it is understandable, they have a right to feel the way they do. Personally I don’t look too deep into it.” 

Dolly says he takes it on the chin as the leader in the team because he has to be strong as there are players in the team who look up to him. 

“I have been in football for quite some time now. I have been on the side of winning, and I have been on the side of not getting the results. 

“But it comes with experience. I take it. I am one of the leaders of the team and I am an experienced player.

“So I have to be an example for the youngsters. I should not let those things from the outside affect me. 

“I should come to training with my head held high and still work hard. I always try my best on the field to be a good example,” says Dolly.