Yusuf Maart will spend his third season at Kaizer Chiefs carrying the responsibility of leading a team aiming for a revival path from the 'dumps' that they sank to last season.
If Maart needed a close-in of what awaits him as captain ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, then Sunday's Toyota Cup pre-season contest against Young Africans presented that chance.
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Chiefs conceded four without response and it is through such difficult situations that a true leader earns his marks by keeping his troops together.
While Maart had a taste last season when he stood in as captain in 10 games, the new campaign will have him at the front from the word go following the departure of Itumeleng Khune and Keagan Dolly.
Khune and Dolly started the past season as captain and deputy respectively but were only able to wear the armband in just six games between them.
Hugely disappointing, to say the least.
Khune led in five matches, while Dolly came out with the armband once as he went through a season of struggles.
This then meant Brandon Petersen led the team for 10 games before throwing his chance down the drain with Maart, Given Msimango (six games), Edmilson Dove (two games) and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (once) all getting an opportunity to captain.
This brought to seven the number of players that got to walk out as 'skipper', which reflected the pile of issues at the club.
The new season has come with Maart being hand-picked for the job.
Based on presence on the field, then the 29-year-old has earned it.
From the 62 games that Maart has played, all but just two have been starts and he has only missed 10 matches since signing for Amakhosi from Sekhukhune United.
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What he has done with those minutes on the field will always be subjective as is the norm in this game, especially considering that he has played in a team that has not been dominant.
Time will tell whether Maart – who will have contract-related discussions to handle – will inspire Chiefs enough to rise again under Nasreddine Nabi.