What the Siya crew has been told…

Kaizer Chiefs have clamped down on their players on two fronts, according to wellplaced sources, and the Siya crew has seen documents supporting the information received.

Firstly, the club are believed to have tightened their alcohol and substance policy for players and staff. Secondly, Amakhosi have tightened the grip on their players’ fitness levels.

Chiefs players’ off-field lifestyle was unceremoniously brought under the spotlight following Daniel Cardoso’s exit from Naturena at the end of the 2021/22 season. At the time, the veteran defender reaffirmed the talk in the fraternity that there were discipline issues within the Village’s backyard.

“I think the biggest downfall over the past seven years I was there… I have seen players brought in and let go within six months to a year (because they were not the right fit),” Cardoso told Marawa Sports Worldwide at the time, in part.

“Sometimes the quality of signings that come to Chiefs… you bring in players from the NFD (National First Division), you bring in free agents. I mean, they are passionate about playing, but some players just want to earn a salary.

“And you can see it on the field. You can see who wants to play and how some players just arrive at training reeking of alcohol because they don’t care. I believe that was the biggest effect (problem) we had at Chiefs in the years that I was there.”

In news that will be welcomed by the club’s faithful, Soccer Laduma has been informed that Amakhosi have taken a huge step forward.

According to Siya sources, Chiefs players recently received new compliance documents to adhere to, with revised conditions for the club’s tolerance of alcohol and substances. It’s clear that the Soweto giants want to ensure that their players toe the line and behave, both on and off the field, in a manner that reflects Chiefs as a football club and as a brand.

Indications are that part of the revised policies, snus (a tobacco product made from dry snuff and originates from Sweden, which is placed between the upper lip and gum for extended periods, known to give players a buzz during matches and training), as well as Hubbly bubbly, also known as hookah pipe, have been added to the list of prohibited substances.

And it does not stop there. A spotlight has also been placed on the players’ physical condition.

During their two-month break due to the FIFA World Cup, according to well-placed sources, Chiefs players were given strict fitness programmes to follow and were reportedly told to report their feedback, from their own devices, back to the club’s sports science department.

It is believed that failure to do so would have resulted in a fine, either financially or disciplinary action.

The sources explained that Chiefs’ decision to tighten the leash on their players came after a tumultuous two seasons, in which the Naturena-based outfit was plagued by a lack of form, owing to the players’ fitness, as well as a number of off-field incidents, which were dealt with behind closed doors.

Amakhosi is sending a signal of intent to their squad and indications are that coach Arthur Zwane has embraced it, which is evident from some of the head coach’s recent statements…