Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thomas Sweswe has offered an insight into the role Bobby Motaung played behind the scenes during one of Amakhosi’s most successful periods.
Chiefs enjoyed a trophy-filled spell between 2010 and 2015, collecting six pieces of silverware, including two league titles. Sweswe was part of the squad during that era and says Motaung maintained a close relationship with the players.
His recollections come as Chiefs continue to search for the consistency that characterised the club during its successful years.
‘Bobby was always with us’
Speaking to football analyst Lindo Pep, Sweswe explained that Motaung was closely involved with the team and regularly travelled with the players.
“From the management we had Bobby,” Sweswe said.
The former Zimbabwe international described Motaung as a constant presence around the squad, saying he was involved in the team’s activities and travelled alongside the players.
“He was always with us everywhere. He was always part of the team wherever we go, he was always with us in the bus. Whatever we were doing, he was doing it with us as players.”
For Sweswe, that proximity helped create a strong connection between the club’s management and the dressing room.
A demanding Chiefs dressing room
Sweswe also recalled the mentality within the Chiefs squad during that period.
According to the former defender, dropping points was taken seriously, with players often frustrated even after avoiding defeat.
He recalled dressing-room scenes in which senior players would remain visibly unhappy after poor results.
“Whenever we lose or drew, there was silence in the dressing room.”
Sweswe also remembered Motaung attempting to lift the mood with humour and encouragement.
The former defender suggested that the squad’s competitive mentality was partly driven by the expectation of winning and the financial incentives attached to league victories.
Senior players also played their part
While discussing the culture within the team, Sweswe also pointed to the influence of experienced players.
He highlighted senior members of the squad, particularly those who were regular internationals, as important figures within the dressing room.
That combination of experienced players and close involvement from management formed part of Sweswe’s recollection of the environment at Chiefs during their trophy-winning period.
Chiefs’ trophy drought adds context
Chiefs’ past success provides the backdrop to Sweswe’s comments.
The club won six trophies between 2010 and 2015 under coaches Vladimir Vermezovic and Stuart Baxter, with Baxter overseeing four of those triumphs before leaving the club in 2015.
Since then, Chiefs have struggled to reproduce that level of success, winning only one trophy over the following 11 years.
That contrast has inevitably led to debate among supporters about the reasons behind the club’s decline and the role of its leadership structure.
The Bobby Motaung debate continues
Sweswe’s account adds another perspective to the discussion surrounding Motaung’s influence at Chiefs.
Some supporters have questioned the role of the Motaung family in the club’s struggles, while others have argued that experienced figures such as Bobby Motaung could still have an important role to play.
However, Sweswe’s comments are based on his experience during a specific period of the club’s history and do not, by themselves, establish what caused Chiefs’ subsequent difficulties.
His recollections do highlight how closely Motaung was connected to the players during the club’s successful era.
So the debate remains open: has Bobby Motaung’s influence helped or hurt Kaizer Chiefs in recent years, and what role should he have at the club going forward?
