With the criticism on Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart ever increasing, especially after his missed penalty, a suggestion has been made regarding stripping him of the armband.
Chiefs suffered their second Betway Premiership loss on the trot over the weekend, losing 2-1 to Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium in a match where they could have opened the scoring after Glody Lilepo was brought down in the box.
Alas, Maart hit the post.
He would later redeem himself after netting the equaliser with the home side having had their noses in front through Nduduzo Sibiya.
With all of the above said, ex-Amakhosi coach Sergio Dos Santos thinks stripping the midfielder of the captaincy might help him regain his confidence and to play more freely without the burden of added responsibility.
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"When Maart stepped up to take the penalty, I already knew he was going to miss," shares the outspoken Dos Santos.
"I knew it because of the attitude. He approached it as if it was going to be easy. My confusion lies in why he took the penalty when (Inacio) Miguel has been the designated penalty taker. It just doesn't make sense.
"Maart is fortunate to be the captain of Kaizer Chiefs, especially since he is not a regular starter. I don't know him personally, and I have never spoken to him, but just by observing his body language and his performance on the field, I do not see the qualities of a captain in him."
"Moreover, the young players at Chiefs seem to lack an understanding of what it means to wear the Gold and Black colours of the club. I am not convinced that they take their roles seriously, and Maart is part of that situation.
"A Kaizer Chiefs captain must exemplify the right attitudes for other players to follow. This includes discipline, commitment, and a hunger to improve, both during training sessions and in other interactions, such as dealing with the media. When speaking to the press, a captain of one of Africa's biggest teams must conduct himself accordingly," he explains further.
Dos Santos, who also had a spell as a player at the Naturena-based outfit in their glorious years, says the Orlando Pirates development product falls short of the above description.
"I don't believe we are getting that from Maart. He shares similar weaknesses with the younger players and often appears to desire special treatment. As a captain, the focus should not be on being 'special'; it should be on performing one's duties so others can follow your lead. That is not happening right now.
"If you consider the captains of Chiefs throughout the years, you will see that a Chiefs captain does not have to be the best or the strongest player on the team. It must be someone who understands how to lead. Currently, Chiefs is lacking that type of leadership, and that is their biggest issue.
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"I have a lot of respect for Yusuf as a player; I believe he is very talented. However, if they were to take the captaincy away from him, I think he would perform better because the pressure might be too much for him.
"As a former player and coach who has a deep love for Kaizer Chiefs - my blood is still gold - I speak from a place of passion, but the situation is becoming increasingly painful," says Dos Santos.