The weight of the gold and black: Cole Alexander reveals Chiefs regret

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Cole Alexander has offered a strikingly honest and emotional account of his time at the Soweto giants, admitting he buckled under the weight of expectation.

The experienced player, who spent two seasons at Naturena, confessed that he “played small” because he was unable to cope with the relentless, all-consuming pressure that followed him everywhere—even to his front door.

When Alexander arrived at Amakhosi, his signing was viewed as a move to bring seasoned professionalism to the midfield. Having built a respectable career at clubs like Polokwane City FC, SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits, the Mitchells Plain native was expected to thrive on the biggest stage.

Instead, the reality of wearing the gold and black jersey proved to be a formidable psychological barrier. Over two seasons, Alexander managed just 28 appearances, hampered less by injury and more by the intense scrutiny from fans, media, and the wider public.

The Weight Of The Chiefs Jersey

“That is the thing I regret, that is where I failed,” Alexander stated when discussing the unique pressures of the club with Soccer Beat. “I failed to equip myself enough to deal with that pressure. I did not find enough solutions to deal with that.”

Alexander made it clear that while every club has its own pressures, the “noise” surrounding Chiefs is on a different level. He expressed profound self-criticism for his mental struggles during his tenure.

“You come to Chiefs, the noise from the outside is always going to be there. I was not equipped enough. I could not deal with those pressures. The criticism is huge,” he said. “To be honest with myself, I failed. I played small and I was in my shell. I really tried to be better. At Chiefs, I failed.”

The 36-year-old was quick to acknowledge that Kaizer Chiefs provided every professional resource for success, underscoring the club’s deep respect for its fanbase. However, he admitted that mentally tuning out the constant feedback was impossible.

He described how the fear of making a mistake on the field was instantly linked to the anticipated negative comments on social media. Crucially, the pressure wasn’t just found in stadiums or online.

“Even Uber Eats delivery guys [laughs], they will give you your food and then express their disappointment, and you will be affected,” he concluded, highlighting just how pervasive the club’s influence is in the daily lives of its players.

Alexander’s candid reflection serves as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary mental toll that comes with representing one of Africa’s biggest football institutions.