A brokenhearted Kaizer Chiefs legend has exclusively revealed to KickOff what his former teammate Jackie 'Asinamali' Masike said about the team's dwindling fortunes before his passing.
Joseph 'Banks' Setlhodi, who was nicknamed after former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, belongs to a special breed of erstwhile Glamour Boys stars, the generation that laid the foundation for those who would come after.
Among these are the likes of Kaizer Motaung, Eliakim 'Pro' Khumalo, Ariel Kgongoane, Ryder Mofokeng, Ace Ntsoelengoe, Computer Lamola... the list is infinite.
The current outfit pales in comparison to past Chiefs sides, having long descended into a perennial state of mediocrity. Ten long years without a trophy, as it were, is an abomination by Amakhosi standards.
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Currently, the team lies eighth in the standings with six matches remaining, having collected an embarrassing 30 points.
"Right now, I don't know who is doing what at Chiefs. I cannot tell you because we are no longer going there," laments Setlhodi.
"I don't think there is hope. My heart is broken. You know, before Jackie passed on, years before he passed on, he said to me: 'Banks, you and me and Kaizer, we will never ever see Kaizer Chiefs lifting a trophy again'.
"And indeed, today Jackie is no more.
I'm starting to believe I will also leave this world without witnessing Kaizer Chiefs winning a trophy again. Even Kaizer himself, I don't think he still has hope of seeing Kaizer Chiefs lifting a cup (again).
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"Jackie could see what was happening. I think we can all see what is happening. But this young generation that is there is keeping us away from the team.
"Today, anyone can play for Kaizer Chiefs. That's something you will not see at Real Madrid. You will not see that at Barcelona. You need to be special to play there," adds the legendary former goalkeeper.
The Soweto have a do-or-die fixture up next, a Nedbank Cup semi-final encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.