‘I’m not Messi or Ronaldo’: Flavio Silva opens up on criticism and Chiefs’ resurgence

Kaizer Chiefs striker Flavio Silva has hit back at his detractors, insisting he doesn’t need to be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to deliver for the Soweto giants.

The Guinea-Bissau international is currently riding a wave of confidence after helping Amakhosi secure their fourth successive Betway Premiership victory. Silva opened the scoring in the recent 2-0 win over TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium, a result that solidified Chiefs’ grip on third place with 42 points from 22 matches.

The victory marks a significant turnaround for the club, who have bounced back from a bruising 3-0 Soweto Derby defeat to Orlando Pirates to record wins over Durban City FC, Magesi FC, Orbit College FC, and the Rockets.

SILVA ON HANDLING NATURENA PRESSURE

Despite his recent form—netting a goal and an assist in his last two outings—Silva has not had an easy ride, often finding himself at the receiving end of heavy social media criticism.

“For me, as long as the criticism is not personal, it is okay. It means maybe I am not playing well, and that I can improve. When I am playing well, I know they will greet me, respect me and give me a lot of love. So for me, it is no problem. It is part of the game,” said Silva.

The 30-year-old was quick to acknowledge his style of play, emphasising that he relies on intelligent movement rather than individual brilliance to find the net.

“It is always about the team. I always speak to my teammates and tell them I can score goals, but I am not Lionel Messi, I am not Cristiano Ronaldo. I am not going to dribble three or four players and score on my own,” he added. “I make my movement, they must pass to me, and I believe in them. So it is always about the team. And of course, we cannot stop until the end. If I can score 20 goals, I will go for 22. There is no limit.”

EYEING DOUBLE FIGURES THIS SEASON AT CHIEFS

In the current campaign, Silva has emerged as a vital cog in the Amakhosi attack. He is currently the club’s joint-top goalscorer across all competitions alongside Glody Makabi Lilepo, with both players having found the back of the net eight times.

With Chiefs on a mission to return to CAF continental football next season, the lanky forward is eager to reach double figures before the curtain falls on the 2025/26 season.

“I’m happy, and even happier now with these four consecutive wins. It is good for the team and good for everybody at the club. I have nothing to complain about. This is the kind of atmosphere I love to be in. Since I was a child, I prayed to play for a club like this, a big club with big pressure,” he declared.

“For me, it is a dream to play for a club like this. It is good pressure and a big responsibility, but it is the kind of pressure I prefer.”

‘NOT 100% SATISFIED’: FLAVIO SILVA SAYS CHIEFS MUST AIM HIGHER

Despite Chiefs’ recent resurgence and their firm grip on third place, striker Flavio Silva insists that the club still has a long way to go to reach its true potential.

“For me, I am not 100 per cent satisfied. I cannot say I am fully happy, but it is a better situation now because if we look at last season, the club was struggling,” Silva admitted. “It is still not enough because of the size of this club. The minimum we can give is to compete with the top clubs. I think we are not there yet, but we are close. It is a process.”

Chiefs travel to the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday to face Magesi FC, eyeing a fifth consecutive Betway Premiership victory. Although Amakhosi brushed aside the same opponents 2-0 last month, Silva warns that past results will count for nothing in Polokwane.

Next Kaizer Chiefs Match!

🏆#BetwayPrem
⚽️Magesi FC vs. Kaizer Chiefs
👕First Team
🗓️Wednesday 15 April 2026
🏟Peter Mokaba Stadium
🕞19h30
📺SuperSport 202
🎟R60, Shoprite: https://t.co/NRVgSP2Vb5
📢Please come early#Amakhosi4Life #KCOneVoice #KCOneFamily #LoveAndPeace pic.twitter.com/UHBjmQFkLN

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) April 14, 2026

The encounter is scheduled for a 19:00 CAT kick-off, with Silva expecting a stern test from the relegation-threatened side.

“Yes, we have good memories, but that is already in the past. We are coming for three points again because we have big ambition,” he said.

EYEING THE CAF TICKET

With Magesi fighting for their top-flight survival, Silva is wary of the “dangerous” nature of opponents with their backs against the wall. However, he maintains that Chiefs’ continental ambitions must override any obstacles.

“We respect them. We cannot underestimate them. We know they have a big target because they want to stay in the PSL next season. But we also have our own target. We have the ambition to qualify for CAF and to finish in the top three.”