‘A good Chiefs is vital for SA football’

Kaizer Chiefs are 90 minutes away from a long-overdue return to continental relevance, and Roger De Sa approves.

The Glamour Boys could qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages for the first time in 12 years. After edging Angola’s Kabuscorp 1-0 on aggregate in the opening round, Amakhosi held AS Simba to a goalless draw away in the Democratic Republic of Congo last weekend.

Now, they just need as little as a narrow 1-0 win at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday to book a spot among Africa’s final 16.

ROGER DE SA SAYS THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP NEEDS A BETTER KAIZER CHIEFS

De Sa, the coach who reignited South Africa’s passion for continental football, knows the significance of Amakhosi’s rise better than most.

After Orlando Pirates lifted the CAF Champions League trophy in 1995, local clubs spent over two decades showing little interest in Africa’s big competitions, often sending weakened teams or pulling out altogether.

That attitude changed when De Sa took the Buccaneers to the 2013 CAF Champions League final, reminding the country what continental pride looks like. His run with Pirates helped reshape local football ambitions, proving that South African clubs could once again compete toe-to-toe with Africa’s best.

“Good to see Chiefs also becoming competitive,” De Sa told TheSouthAfrican’s Siseko Gwegwe.

“It is important. A good Kaizer Chiefs in South African football is vital. It just brings the whole standard up and makes it a whole lot more competitive as well. It is good to see that.

“Every South African club that competes in CAF should be able to make the group stages. Looking around the African continent, it is really us, Egypt and Morocco, who should be leading the pack. Of course, there will be other teams in Tanzania, and a good central African team now and then.

“But compared to what we have, our league, our facilities, and everything else, we have to show signs that we goto compete in Africa. If we do well, our national team will do well. We can see what’s happening now and it is all a reflection on what’s happening at the clubs,” De Sa concluded.

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs take on Siwelele FC this evening in the Betway Premiership.