Former Yusuf Maart has opened up about the intense criticism he endured during his time as captain of Kaizer Chiefs.
The 30-year-old midfielder joined Amakhosi in 2022 from Sekhukhune United and made an immediate impact, famously scoring a stunning long-range winner from inside his own half against rivals Orlando Pirates.
However, his fortunes quickly shifted. Within a year, Maart found himself under scrutiny as his form dipped.
After being handed the captain’s armband in 2024, the pressure intensified, with sections of the fanbase often voicing their frustration as he struggled for consistency.
Despite the criticism, Maart delivered in crucial moments. In one of his final appearances, he netted a dramatic late winner against Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final, sealing silverware for Chiefs and cementing his place in club folklore.
Yet, even that moment wasn’t enough to shift the narrative around him before his move to Austrian side SV Ried in July.
Maart left Chiefs for Austria
Reflecting on his time at Naturena, Maart admitted the criticism was difficult but ultimately motivating.
“When I was at Chiefs, I was playing 90 percent of the games. People didn’t like it, you know, fans criticised me. There was one game where I missed a penalty and everyone booed me,” Maart told Soccerbeat.
“At that time, it motivated me. I got excited because I was feeding off that energy. They never knew what I went through to be where I am today. They couldn’t break me, they made me stronger.”
Maart also explained that his decision to leave Chiefs was driven by a long-held ambition to play in Europe, despite having recently signed a new deal with the club.
“For me, it was an opportunity at my age,” he said.
“They said we could talk again about it. When Ried got promoted, I went home to enjoy my holiday in Cape Town. I came back and trained with Chiefs for two or three weeks, but they were calling on the other side.”
Maart also revealed that Chiefs’ coaching staff were keen for him to stay and continue leading the team, but he felt the timing was right to take the leap.
“The Chiefs coaches asked me to stay, but I said it’s an opportunity I don’t want to miss…to play in Europe and see what it feels like.”
