Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has criticised the leadership within the Amakhosi squad following their elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup by Zambia's Red Arrows.

The Soweto giants were knocked out of the competition after losing a penalty shootout, despite fighting back to win the second-round encounter in regulation time. Bradley Cross scored Chiefs' only goal of the match, forcing the tie to be decided from the penalty spot.

However, the shootout proved disastrous for Amakhosi, with Lebohang Maboe, Reeve Frosler and Ethan Chislett all failing to convert their penalties. Their misses handed Red Arrows the advantage and brought Chiefs' continental campaign to an end.

The defeat has raised questions about the team's ability to handle pressure, with Khumalo particularly concerned about Frosler's demeanour before taking his penalty.

Speaking on SABC2 after the match, Khumalo singled out Frosler's body language, suggesting that the defender did not appear confident enough before stepping up to take his spot-kick.

The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, popularly known as 16V, believes a player's demeanour can reveal a great deal about their mental state during high-pressure situations.

"I said his body language was not a positive one; it was a little sluggish," Khumalo said.

However, his criticism extended beyond Frosler's missed penalty, with the Amakhosi icon questioning whether the team had enough leadership among its senior players to intervene when necessary.

According to Khumalo, experienced footballers should be willing to speak up when they believe a teammate is not in the right frame of mind to take a crucial penalty.

"The question is, do we have leadership within the players, because there are certain players that can probably command to say, 'No, sorry coach, I don't think so and so should take it'," he said.

His comments have brought renewed attention to the responsibility senior players carry when their team faces difficult moments.

Despite his concerns, Khumalo acknowledged that penalty shootouts are unpredictable and that missing a spot-kick does not necessarily mean a player made the wrong decision by stepping forward.

He also recognised the courage required to take responsibility in such a high-pressure situation, noting that the outcome could easily have favoured Chiefs.

"It could've gone either way; they took their penalties [well], and the last one, which was the last hope of Kaizer Chiefs by Chislett, he missed it," he said.

Khumalo urged the team to regroup and learn from the disappointment, highlighting that players have different approaches when taking penalties.

"Again, it's just to regroup, because taking of penalties, we differ how we take penalties. But pass the net," he added.

Chiefs' elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup represents a setback for the club, which will now have to turn its attention to its remaining domestic commitments.

Khumalo's remarks have also placed the spotlight on the importance of leadership within the dressing room, with the former midfielder suggesting that experienced players must do more than lead by example when their teammates are under pressure.

Kaizer Chiefs Under Fire From Doctor Khumalo After CAFCC Loss, With Penalty Taker Questioned - Briefly.co.za