Robson Muchichwa is urging his former team, Kaizer Chiefs, to return to their roots when it comes to player recruitment.
He believes the club's difficulties began when they stopped considering players from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Muchichwa highlights that SADC countries have produced stars for Chiefs, including Absom 'Scara' Thindwa, William Shongwe, Albert Bwalya, Collins Mbesuma, and Knowledge Musona, among others.
"I'm pleased with the new players Chiefs have announced so far, as long as they are the right fit for the club," says Muchichwa.
Read | 'Nabi shouldn't allow interference'
"The biggest mistake they have made is neglecting the SADC region. Players from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have historically performed well in South Africa.
"I don't understand why the club is no longer looking in that direction. I'm not saying they should stop considering other regions, but they should continue to sign players from SADC as well.
"It's beneficial for the club to be represented by talent from all nations, as long as those players deserve to be there.
"The trend of signing players from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe was effective and showed positive results," he added.
Read | Chiefs to roll out red carpet again on signings
"They can still recruit from West Africa without ignoring our neighboring countries. They shouldn't cut off this region simply because they are exploring options further afield.
"What if some of the new players don't perform well? The SADC region players understand exactly what it means to play for the club. They understood exactly what it meant to wear the badge."
