Jomo Cosmos owner and Orlando Pirates legend, Jomo Sono has become the latest football voice in the local football fraternity to explain why the Premier Soccer League needs a strong Kaizer Chiefs.
The 1970s and 1980s were a golden age for Sono, as he battled Bucs' Soweto rivals regularly.
Both teams have fallen behind Mamelodi Sundowns, especially in the league, where Masadawana have won seven straight titles.
Even though Pirates returned to adding silverware under Jose Riveiro, Amakhosi had a shadow of their glory days in the league, finishing in a disappointing 10th spot - a new low for the Amkhosi - as a ninth consecutive season without silverware.
Both have fallen behind Mamelodi Sundowns, especially in the league, where Masadawana have won seven titles in a row.
Though Pirates returned to adding silverware under Jose Riveiro, they remained somewhat short in the league, with Amakhosi becoming a shadow of their former glory, finishing in a disappointing 10th spot - a new low for the Amkhosi after completing their ninth consecutive season without silverware.
In order to get the whole country buzzing again, Sono urged Chiefs to get back up and into cup finals.
Asked why the Premier League needs a strong Chiefs, he said, "It's important to have a Kaizer Chiefs, a Pirates, a Sundowns and a Jomo Cosmos. It's good for the league.".
“It keeps the league's image up there. Let's be honest, if Pirates hadn't reached the final, the Top 8 wouldn't be as appealing.
The team that is making the Top 8 click is Pirates and they are playing well at the moment. Sundowns were eliminated, it is Pirates and Stellenbosch in the final. They [Stellies] deserve to be there.
Can you imagine if Pirates and Chiefs were in the final? The whole country would be buzzing. At the moment, only a quarter of the country is buzzing.
Pirates, Pirates, Pirates..."
The player is also under immediate pressure and scrutiny at SA's top clubs, including Chiefs.
"Pirates, Chiefs, Sundowns? To sign for those teams, you need a character of a player," he explained.
You don't just put a player who wasn't even playing in his team there and expect him to succeed.
In addition, they have the biggest following in the country. You can imagine, you are new, you make a mistake, and then they start shouting at you. You just lose confidence.
Whatever these teams sign, it has to be the right player for them.
