Kaizer Chiefs’ Crisis Deepens as Legend Banks Setlhodi Blows the Whistle – ‘Not Even Pito Musim Can Save This Mess!’ Plus Bafana Bafana’s R200M Nightmare!

Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s most iconic football clubs, find themselves in a quagmire that legendary former goalkeeper Joseph Banks Setlhodi says no coach alone can fix.

Speaking candidly, Banks laid bare the club’s fundamental issues, insisting that even a tactician of Pito Musim’s caliber would struggle with the current squad and dysfunctional leadership.

This harsh reality check comes on the heels of the club’s official confirmation that head coach Nazin Nabi parted ways with the Chiefs last month.

Nabi’s exit was shrouded in uncertainty, initially leaving the team on September 17 amid rumors of suspension over coaching qualifications.

The club only recently formalized the split, naming assistant coaches Khalil Ben Yusf and Cedric Gaz as interim leaders for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Yet, five matches into their stewardship, results remain inconsistent: one win, two draws, and two defeats.

While the Chiefs managed to scrape through to the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary second round on penalties after a narrow aggregate against Angola’s Kabuscorp, their domestic form has been underwhelming.

Draws against Marumo Gallants and Amazulu in the Betway Premiership, coupled with an early exit from the Carling Knockout Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Stellenbosch FC, paint a grim picture.

Banks Setlhodi’s message to fans and critics is blunt: stop obsessing over coaching and start scrutinizing the players.

“You can bring 20 coaches from the best in the world, the results won’t change,” he stated.

“Chiefs lack good footballers. The coach directs, but it is the players who win games.”

His critique extends beyond the pitch to the club’s leadership.

“If you are blind and leading a nation, that nation will fail because you see nothing,” Banks said, questioning the capability of Chiefs’ executives to address the club’s systemic problems.

He lamented that the club treats football as mere business, ignoring the unique demands of the sport.

Banks also dismissed calls for Pito Musim, a highly regarded coach, to take over at Naturena.

“Pito would not stay at Chiefs because they don’t have good leaders. They don’t know how to address football matters,” he warned.

According to Banks, Musim would demand quality players — something Chiefs currently cannot provide.

“You can’t have players earning R50,000 and still need to be taught how to trap the ball,” he concluded.

This scathing assessment comes at a time when Kaizer Chiefs desperately need stability and direction.

The coaching carousel and player quality issues have left fans frustrated and uncertain about the club’s future.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification hopes have taken a massive hit, compounded by a costly administrative blunder that could financially cripple the South African Football Association (SAFA).

The controversy stems from fielding an ineligible player, Debora Mugua, in a qualifier against Lesotho, which led to FIFA docking South Africa three points and overturning a 2-0 win into a 3-0 loss.

This penalty has plunged Bafana from first to third place in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leaving their fate out of their own hands.

To qualify, South Africa must beat Rwanda in their final match and hope for favorable results elsewhere.

The financial stakes are enormous.

FIFA has nearly doubled the prize pool for the 2026 World Cup to $896 million (about R15 billion), with group stage qualifiers guaranteed substantial participation bonuses.

Missing out could cost SAFA upwards of R200 million in prize money and participation fees — a devastating blow for an association already struggling financially.

Responsibility for the blunder reportedly falls on team manager Vincent Tekka, who failed to track Mugua’s disciplinary record properly.

This oversight has thrown the entire qualification campaign into jeopardy, undermining months of effort on the pitch.

South Africa’s recent performances have been inconsistent, with draws against Nigeria and Zimbabwe and a prior 2-0 loss to Rwanda adding pressure ahead of the decisive game.

Coach Hugo Bruce and his technical team now face immense scrutiny, as fans and pundits debate whether the coaching staff or SAFA’s administration bears the greater blame for this nightmare scenario.

The final day of Group C action promises to be a nail-biter, with Benin, Nigeria, and South Africa all vying for the single automatic qualification spot.

Benin can seal their historic first World Cup berth with a win or draw against Nigeria if South Africa fails to win.

South Africa’s path is narrow: they must defeat Rwanda and hope Benin loses to Nigeria.

Nigeria, meanwhile, must beat Benin by a three-goal margin and hope South Africa falters.

For South African football, the situation is dire.

Missing the World Cup would not only be a sporting setback but a financial catastrophe, potentially exacerbating SAFA’s money woes and stalling development programs.

Back at Kaizer Chiefs, the club’s internal turmoil mirrors the national team’s struggles.

Both face leadership challenges and questions about player quality and administration.

Banks Setlhodi’s stark warnings serve as a sobering reminder that without addressing these core issues, success will remain elusive.

As the dust settles on Nabi’s departure and the World Cup qualification drama unfolds, South African football stands at a crossroads.

Will the Chiefs rebuild with stronger leadership and better players?

Can SAFA learn from its costly mistakes and support Bafana Bafana’s quest for glory?

Fans can only hope that lessons are learned before the next chapter begins.

For now, the drama continues — on the pitch, in the boardrooms, and in the hearts of supporters desperate for a brighter future.