Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has heaped praise on three Amakhosi players who have bounced back after receiving heavy criticism.
Siyabonga Ngezana had a shaky start to the season with Amakhosi, being largely blamed for errors that led to an eventual 4-0 hammering from Mamelodi Sundowns in August.
Sithebe, signed from AmaZulu on a free, struggled with fitness, having not players for just under six months prior to his arrival at Naturena. The 30-year-old has been in and out of the team, while Brandon Petersen lost his position between the posts to a resurgent Itumeleng Khune.
However, in recent games, the trio has proven to be worth their weight in gold.
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Ngezana returned against to the starting line-up against Royal AM and delivered a Man of the Match winning performance against Maritzburg United, while Sithebe impressed as a substitute against Mamelodi Sundowns and has since retained the central midfielder role for Amakhosi’s last three outings.
Petersen also returned to the starting line-up and in three appearances has kept three clean sheets - a first for Amakhosi this season.
"It is always how you come back after a set back and that alone tells you that mentally, you are strong enough to play for a Chiefs of Kaizer Chiefs caliber," Zwane said of the trio.
"Yes, people will always have something to say. They have their opinion and we respect that but if you look at these players, they started the season very well. All the payers that you mentioned.
"But because football is a game of mistakes and playing for a chiefs caliber’ a team that hasn’t been winning cups for same time, the pressure will always mount when things are not going our way.
"As I’ve always said. It’s how you deal with that pressure, it’s how you come back from that’s et back as a player. Just to show your quality, just to show that you are mentally ready to compete at this level.
"So, I must give credit to those players. Just for them to come back to show those quality displays in all those games, just t show that they are good enough to e part of the team.
It’s not only them, It’s just easy to play for a team of Chiefs caliber because you’re expected to perform week in, week out, of which is tough. Mentally, it takes a lot out of one."
Chiefs host Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership on Sunday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
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