Amakhosi captain, Yusuf Maart believes determination and a strong attitude were key factors in Kaizer Chiefs winning their fist major silverware in 11 years, following a dramatic 2-1 Nedbank Cup final win over Orlando Pirates on Saturday, in which Maart scored the winning goal.

Speaking exclusively to www.kaizerchiefs.com, Maart credits the psychological aspect of never giving up for the long-awaited success.

“We had a tough start to the league but, as management, technical team and players we managed to put in a good cup run to carry us though to the final, and with a great mentality, we brought it home,” he says, adding, “We haven’t had a great season in the league, and that is something we will have to improve on, but we all fought as a team and put a lot of work into bringing the Nedbank Cup back to Naturena. Cup games are different to league matches in a lot of ways, but mainly we want to build more consistency going forward.”

Recalling his world-class 80^th minute volley which decided the destiny of the trophy , Maart reveals with typical humility, “It was a great feeling to score in the final. On the field it is always tough; even when things aren’t going well you must never give up on trying your best. I believe that if you keep going and put in extra effort, you will get the rewards, so I am very grateful to have scored the winning goal.”

The 29-year-old midfielder, along with his teammates, has endured challenging times in recent years, as the Club frequently fell short of the standards they demand from themselves, until now.

“I became aware of how much it meant when I joined the Club and it wasn’t easy because of the pressure of knowing what is expected at Kaizer Chiefs,” Maart says of overcoming periods when things don’t go the way you want them to, “But I have worked my hardest from the first day. My first two seasons were not easy but now in my third season, we have been rewarded with something great, which is something I deeply appreciate.”

The skipper reserves special gratitude for Chairman, Dr. Kaizer Motaung, the figurehead who remains the primary inspiration at the Club, and whose words carry the gravitas to motivate people to become the best version of themselves.

“Thank you for being like a father to each and every player since you started the Club,” says Maart, “Everybody loves and appreciates the Chairman. When he speaks to us, we feel like anything is possible; through him we understand what the Club stands for, and the responsibility we have to the millions of fans that support us through thick and thin, so I want to thank him. We are all very pleased to make him happy with this trophy.”