Kaizer Chiefs have reached a critical point in their season, and the Motaung family is set to make key decisions behind the scenes. This comes after the club secured a CAF Confederation Cup qualification spot.
While the results have been somewhat positive, the real decisions are only just beginning. The technical team, led by co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, has delivered a third-place finish, which is just one position below the initial target of second place, as confirmed by Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr.
Assessing The Coaches’ Performance
The situation is complicated by the largely disappointing performances and style of play, despite the results. Ben Youssef and Kaze arrived on two-year agreements, accompanied by Majdi Safi (fitness and conditioning coach) and Ilyes Mzoughi (goalkeeper coach). All of their deals are set to expire in June, although there are options that could stretch them into the 2026/27 campaign.
Kaizer Chiefs have undoubtedly shown massive improvement from last season’s disastrous ninth-place finish. This season’s third-place standing has been largely made possible by goalkeeper Brandon Petersen’s heroics and stout defensive discipline, which is not exactly the club’s style of football.
Evaluating The Team’s Progress
Despite the league results, 14 wins and nine draws so far, Kaizer Chiefs failed to challenge for domestic silverware due to major cup flops. They crashed out of the opening Round of 32 in the Nedbank Cup to Stellenbosch FC and also exited the Carling Knockout in the opening round of 16 against the same team. Their continental journey in the CAF Confederation Cup also ended in disappointment, finishing third in their group behind Zamalek and Al Masry, narrowly missing out on the knockout stages.
The club is heavily linked with current Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi. He has acknowledged the interest, noting that no formal deal is currently in place. Additionally, Sead Ramovic has emerged as a top candidate. The former TS Galaxy manager is now a free agent after recently terminating his contract with Algerian side CR Belouizdad.
Looking To The Future
As the club considers its options, it is clear that the next coaching appointment will be crucial. With several top candidates in the mix, Kaizer Chiefs must carefully weigh their options and make a decision that will take the team forward.
