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Orlando Pirates' long-suffering fans must be totally fed up by now at being the butt of many a joke in the local game, as seasons without meaningful silverware pile up like an M1 rush-hour traffic jam.
As the Buccaneers head into Saturday's Telkom Knockout first-round meeting with Bloemfontein Celtic (Orlando Stadium, 8.15pm), it has now been over 10 years - with all due respect to the pre-season Vodacom Challenge - since they won a proper knockout competition.
As for the league title, well even that was last captured in 2002/03, seven seasons ago.
Winger Dikgang Mabalane has been around for the last couple of those barren years, and the Pirates winger is fed up with his side talking a good game, only to fail on the field of play.
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"You know, it's beginning to sound like a lullaby," said Mabalane after Pirates' training yesterday.
"We will bring something back, we will do our best. Maybe sometimes we talk too much, and the best thing to do is ... keep quiet and go on the field. It's useless to say we will do this, and then we don't do it; it's just repetition.
"It's time for the players to deliver at least a cup, something to be proud of.
"Especially for a team like Pirates, it's not acceptable."
Ruud Krol's side are one of the hardest hit by Carlos Alberto Parreira's Bafana camp in Brazil, with six of their first team away in South America during the Telkom Knockout.
But Mabalane believes other players can produce the goods in the coming weeks.
"I believe we can win the tournament, and everyone believes in the same mission," he said. "Everyone should feel that now is an opportunity for them to show why they are here. We bought quality players, so we should show that we have quality players."
Having failed to produce in the Absa Premiership, and after the team lost in the African Champions League first qualifying round, speculation is already flying about Krol's position at Pirates.
Mabalane, however, believes the coach should stay, and that the players need to take more responsibility for the club's situation.
"I think he's one of the best coaches we've had," he said.
"I am sure any other team would love to have a coach like him. I have worked with him for two seasons now, and I know what he is capable of. He comes with good credentials and a good reputation. You can't blame him; it's definitely the players who have to take responsibility.
"It's always a tough game against Celtic, especially with their current performance. But again, I wouldn't want to talk too much. It becomes a curse - you just talk, talk, talk and nothing happens."
Pirates and Celtic drew 1-1 in their final league game of the season at the weekend, and Krol says his side need to learn to convert more of the chances they create.
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