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Cape Town - Cracking the whip on senior players is what will help Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela to guide the Soweto giants back to glory in the upcoming Absa Premiership season.
That's according to former Amakhosi midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi, who strongly believes that the club's senior players are the ones holding the key to Komphela's future at the Naturena-based side.
"When a coach comes at a team of Chiefs' calibre with hard-to-please supporters, he needs to make sure that he instills his authority in the team's players," Nkosi told Vodacom Soccer.
"That means he must crack the whip on the team's senior players who have a big influence in the team.
"I mean, he must make sure that senior players like Bernard Parker, Tshepo Masilela and Itumeleng Khune dance to his tune.
"His failure to do that surely will make his work more difficult, because these senior players are the ones who have a big influence amongst the team's players.
He added: "I'm speaking from experience as I have played at different teams locally and internationally, and I've learnt that senior players have a big influence in the coach's future in the team.
"You know, no matter how many noteworthy players have been signed by Chiefs [during the current transfer window], but the team's senior players will still have influence.
"For example, if a senior player shows a respect to Steve at any training session or at dressing room, surely a new player or a young player will follow suit.
"And another thing is that Steve will never have an excuse for failure next season, because the team's management has made sure to make important signings to beef-up the squad."
Amakhosi, who had an underwhelming 2015/16 season despite reaching two cup finals, MTN8 Cup and Telkom Knockout Cup, will have a chance to test their new signings against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the Carling Black Cup clash on 30 July at FNB Stadium.
