Kaizer Chiefs’ George Maluleka: We have only ourselves to blame

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Apr 10, 2018. 17:00

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka says his side have only themselves to blame after effectively dropping out of Absa Premiership title contention.

The Amakhosi suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Chippa United this past weekend to see their slim title hopes virtually extinguished.

They remain in with a mathematical chance, but realistically the trophy will be won by either Mamelodi Sundowns or Chiefs’ Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.

Yet the defeat to Chippa was only the latest setback in what has been a frustrating campaign for the Amakhosi. Had they converted just a few of the 12 matches they have draw into victories, then they would be very much in the mix.

“It’s very difficult but, then again, we put ourselves in this position with the points that we dropped, when we could have maybe gotten a draw or collected maximum points,” said Maluleka, as quoted by Kick-Off.

“But we have ourselves to blame for that and that’s how football goes. Our fate is not in our hands, and right now we just need to focus on ourselves.

“Even if we took four sets of three points then we could have been talking a different story now.”

In the absence of winning the title, Maluleka at least hopes Chiefs can finish in the top three and play in CAF club competition next year.

“Anything lower than third place would be a disappointment for us. I think worst case scenario is not qualifying for CAF,” he added.

“I think we want to qualify if the league doesn’t happen, and that would at least give us that boost to say, ‘Let’s go on and take on the continent’.”