Solomons ‘can be the difference’ for Amakhosi

• Published date: 26 April 2024
• Author: Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za
• Publication title: Daily News

A few years back, Solomons was an aspiring Olympian, specialising in sprinting, the triple jump and long jump

But as fate would have it, he swapped his running spikes for soccer boots, joining Cape Town All Stars and then moving on to Royal AM, Stellenbosch FC, Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs.

By joining Chiefs, Solomons wanted to succeed and win trophies regularly. But that hasn’t been the case, with the club now enduring a nine-year barren run.

That has stung for Solomons, who was used to winning in athletics, helping the Western Province 4x100m relay team win bronze at the 2016 SA Under-23 athletics championships.

But speaking ahead of his team’s DStv Premiership clash against SuperSport United tomorrow (5.30pm kick-off) in Polokwane, Solomons is positive that he can still add value at Chiefs.

“When I said goodbye to the track, I knew it was never going to be easy or (a) walk in the park for me to come to teams like this and play regularly,” the defender-cum-attacker said yesterday.

“I knew the sacrifices that I was making. When I got here, it was a totally different setting from the teams that I was playing for.

“Winning trophies is part of the team’s culture, so not being able to do that has given me a feeling of wanting to be the difference. I can be the difference.”

Solomons is in his second season at Chiefs, and he’s yet to make the difference that he’s hoping for, given the club’s misfortunes in recent weeks.

Fortunes were also against him, given that he wasn’t playing regularly when the season started under coach Molefi Ntseki.

Things have changed under Cavin Johnson, though, as he’s started to get more game time.

But considering the team’s poor run of form, it’s been a double-edged sword.

“It’s been an up-and-down situation now. I am happy to be playing, but I am also not happy because the team is not winning,” Solomons said.

“Obviously, the team comes first, whether I play or don’t. The team must win. It hasn’t been great. But we...