Despite early-season optimism following the appointment of coach Nasreddine Nabi and the signings of high-profile players such as Thabo Cele and Glody Lilepo, Amakhosi have failed to live up to expectations.

With just four league matches remaining, the club sits precariously in eighth position on the Betway Premiership log with 31 points, hardly the campaign their loyal supporters envisioned.

In an interview with Sowetan, Ngcobo acknowledged the weight of the pressure and the psychological hurdles the squad has faced throughout the season and the struggle to maintain the same mental sharpness against so-called ‘smaller teams’, a weakness that has cost them vital points.

"This period is very challenging and frustrating. But I really believe this is part and parcel of being at a big team like Chiefs. We need to know how to manage situations like this, and the only way to do it is to win our games," said the midfielder.

"Mentally, we've struggled to treat all games equally. We go into each and every game wanting to win, same mindset, but sometimes we unfortunately lose the ones against teams lower on the table, and win those perceived to be more difficult."

This season has seen Chiefs fall short in the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup, and their league campaign has been riddled with inconsistency. However, there's still one last chance to salvage their season—and avoid a trophy drought that has now stretched to nearly a decade.

Chiefs have booked their place in the Nedbank Cup final, where they will face arch-rivals Orlando Pirates on 12 May at Moses Mabhida Stadium. For a club of Chiefs' stature, the match represents more than just a shot at silverware, it's a chance at redemption.

But before they can turn their full attention to that monumental clash, Amakhosi must first focus on finishing strong in the league. With a top-eight finish still uncertain, each of their remaining fixtures is now crucial, starting with a must-win home encounter against Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo admits mindset issues behind Kaizer Chiefs' struggles