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Cape Town - Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Linda Buthelezi insists the change in the coaching department at Naturena may have affected the players mentally.
Steve Komphela has endured a tough first season as Amakhosi coach after taking over from Stuart Baxter at the beginning of the 2015/16 Premiership campaign, failing to defend their league and MTN 8 titles.
Buthelezi, who represented Chiefs from 1991 to 1993, believes some of the players in the team struggled to adjust to life after Baxter.
"Look, it’s not about the players, I would say it’s about the change," Buthelezi told Goal website.
"Whenever there’s a change there will be a slide situation. It changes the minds of the players, that has cost Chiefs because they were used to the mentality and way of the previous coach.
"Suddenly when there’s a change the players must adjust to the situation because you must understand players when they feel needed by the coach they perform a lot, they go the extra mile.
Buthelezi says that the players lost that to 'die for the coach' mentality when Baxter left and now they are struggling to find their feet under Komphela.
Meanwhile, Chiefs return to the playing fold on Wednesday, April 27 when they face the University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership clash.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
