JOHANNESBURG - Daniel Cardoso says Kaizer Chiefs will need to win at least two trophies next season to make up for what has been two horrible campaigns.
Cardoso was speaking ahead of their final league encounter against Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), where they are expected to pay tribute to the Absa Premiership champions with a guard of honour.
The no-nonsense defender described the two barren campaigns as “abnormal” for a club of Chiefs’ calibre and stature.
The right centre-back also added that they would need to up their game next season, if they are to avoid another heartbreak of being trophyless in the 2017/18 campaign.
“This is our second season in a row without silverware,” Cardoso said. “It’s not normal for us. We only have ourselves to blame for it.
“We dropped too many points towards the end of the season. We produced too many draws yet again. However, we’ve got to make sure we pick ourselves up and fight to win at least two trophies next season.”
To do that, though, the 28-year-old said Chiefs would need to be more solid in the rearguard. They have to be switched on at all times -until the final minute of each match - if they are to reclaim the glory.
It is such lapses in concentration at the back that saw Chiefs stumble when challenging for the league title.
Amakhosi conceded silly goals at crucial stages in matches against the likes of Lamontville Golden Arrows (1-1), two draws against SuperSport United (1-1, 2-2) and a defeat to
Cape Town City (3-2), results that nudged them out of mounting a serious challenge for league honours.
Cardoso conceded that it was more of a player problem, than a coaching issue.
“We weren’t as awake in defence as we would have liked to be, hence we conceded crucial goals in the dying minutes of our last four league games,” Cardoso said.
“We need to learn from those experiences going into the new season. Sure we haven’t won trophies the past two seasons but the team have gelled quite nicely in these campaigns.
“We went on a 15-game unbeaten run and
that showed the team were beginning to understand what coach Steve Komphela wanted from us. If we bring in one or two players I believe they’ll learn quicker as to how the team do
things.
“This team will win trophies next season,” said an optimistic Cardoso.