Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune feels the side were “too nice” and lacked a killer instinct after going a second consecutive campaign without silverware. Amakhosi started the 2016/17 Absa Premiership season in promising form but failed to maintain their momentum as they eventually had to settle for a fourth-placed finish. This, after just one victory in their last five games - coming on the final day against new champions Bidvest Wits - proved pivotal in Chiefs’ shortcomings as they finished the season 10 points adrift of the Students. “We saw that we gave away unnecessary goals in the last kick of the game, like the goal we conceded [in the 1-1 draw] against [Golden Arrows on May 6],” said Khune. “That is a game we could have won easily but lapses of concentration; those are the things that the coach [Steve Komphela] works on with us.

"He always reminds us about the mindset and always tells us about how crucial certain minutes of the game are which is why I always keep reminding the guys after a restart, like a corner, free-kick or throw you will see me showing them the sign that let us stay switched on because football has now gone on to a different level. “Players are becoming more clever and other coaches are talking about being tsotsis on the field and we have seen that emerging. I think with us we have been too nice in such instances and those are the things that we need to focus on and improve on,” he explained.

Khune admits just how tough a season this was after finishing empty handed. “It has been a tough season for all the teams and it is not surprising that [Orlando] Pirates are not in the top eight,” Khune said. “They know it was tough for them and it was tough for us because Kaizer Chiefs is a team known for winning trophies and two seasons running we couldn’t even win one silverware so we are not happy about it. "We are not proud about it and we have to go back to the drawing board and see where it all went wrong,” said the influential keeper.