As misfiring Kaizer Chiefs are left with only one match in 2024, KickOff looks at where the Naturena-based side finished the previous calendar year and how they can improve going forward.
Doubts are beginning to emerge at Chiefs under head coach Nasreddine Nabi following their 2-0 defeat to Polokwane City, which preceded an erratic and nervy 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy.
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By this time last year, they had already made a coaching change after parting ways with Molefi Ntseki three months into the new season.
The side improved under caretaker coach Cavin Johnson and the fanbase had big hopes that the turnaround was underway during the December festive period.
Amakhosi came close to finishing the previous calendar year with four consecutive victories but were held to a 1-all stalemate by Sekhukhune United in their last game of 2023.
As a result, they ended the year lying sixth on the table.
It was inconceivable that the same team actually ended up finishing 10th, their worst finish in the PSL era at the end of 2023/24.
The wheels started to come off in March 2024 after a 3-2 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby, as Johnson's charges went four straight games after that without scoring.
The biggest lesson for the side, in hindsight, was that they did not make any new signings in January and could not find a second, third and fourth gear when it mattered most.
Nabi has made it clear in the public domain that he wants new quality players to bolster the squad in the January transfer window and the responsibility has been transferred to management, if the team is to improve come the New Year.
The ninth-placed Glamour Boys will bid 2024 goodbye with a Betway Premiership clash against Chippa United next Sunday, December 29, and depending on other results, could finish as high as fifth, sixth or seventh on the table if they secure maximum points.
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Which means more or less they would not have improved from their previous year end, despite not having changed coaches.
And anything less than a win will mean Chiefs would have regressed from the previous year end.