Dolly speaks on pressures of playing for Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Keagan Dolly has shared insights into the demands and pressures of representing a club of Chiefs’ stature. 

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Amakhosi, one of South Africa’s most prominent and successful football clubs, have long attracted both local and international players due to their rich history and reputation for nurturing top talent.

However, in recent years, Chiefs have grappled with underwhelming performances, a dearth of trophies. 

And a revolving door of talented players coming and going, often falling short of expectations at Chiefs.

Reflecting on the issue of players not reaching their full potential upon joining Chiefs, Dolly acknowledged that it’s a complex situation. 

He couldn’t speak for everyone, but he pointed to a combination of factors. These include the immense pressure that comes with representing one of the biggest clubs in the country. 

Dolly reveals what attracted him to Chiefs

Dolly also suspected that some players get too comfortable too early and easily at Chiefs and end up not pulling their weight. 

“The pressure here is different, Chiefs is a big brand,” Dolly said as quoted by Sunday World earlier this week. 

“The club is known for winning trophies in the past and producing quality players. 

“But it’s a bit of both (whether players relax or feel pressure to perform) and for me, the experience was different. 

“That’s because I wanted to come here from France to show why I played in Europe… So, the motivation to do well and achieve at the club has always been there.

“I wouldn’t speak about different players because everyone’s experience is different when they come to Chiefs. One might say it’s the pressure while others say something else.”

Since arriving at Naturena, Dolly has had to grapple with a series of injuries that disrupted his progress. 

Dolly poser for Chiefs coach

However, he’s now back from injury, and there’s a new coach, Molefi Ntseki, who has already settled on his team for the season.

Given Dolly’s reputation and ability to perform in high-stakes matches, it might not be too long before the former Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns star secures a spot in the starting lineup. 

He’s fully fit and raring to go, making him a potential key player in Chiefs’ Carling Knockout Cup campaign, which kicks off against AmaZulu FC this weekend.

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The showdown with the KwaZulu-Natal giants is set to take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday at 6 pm, as Chiefs embark on another quest to put an end to their prolonged trophy drought.