Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Khalill Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze are under increased pressure at the worst possible time.
When results are drying up, there is no ill-timed moment than just before an international or midseason break. Those pauses offer club management the perfect period to act, analyse, and, most often, make a big decision to change.
PRESSURE ON KAIZER CHIEFS CO-COACHES
In the Eastern Cape on Wednesday night, Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw by rock-bottom Chippa United, a side with just one win in 14 league matches and on a 10-game winless run.
To turn up the pressure, the result followed two poor games in the CAF Confederation Cup. Kaizer Chiefs had lost 2–1 to an average Al Masry side in Egypt before needing a lucky equaliser to rescue a point against Zamalek in Polokwane.
The results saw the Glamour Boys drop to fifth in the Premier Soccer League and sit second from bottom in their CAF Confederation Cup group.
TS GALAXY IN MBOBELA BEFORE EXTENDED BREAK
The calendar offers little comfort for co-coaches Youssef and Kaze. Kaizer Chiefs next face TS Galaxy, a side they have struggled against in recent seasons: zero wins in the last five league meetings.
The Rockets have tasted only a single loss in their past four games, a 1–0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, while picking up wins over Stellenbosch and Golden Arrows, along with a goalless draw against Polokwane City. This run hardly tells what TS Galaxy are all about.
Adnan Beganovic’s team is one of the most well-drilled sides in Mzanis with an unplayable intensity that has been developed over three seasons. Earlier this term, Beganovic guided the club through a five-match unbeaten run that included a 4–1 win over Chippa United and back-to-back 3–1 victories against Orbit College and AmaZulu. Kaizer Chiefs will need to bring their A-game to Mbombela.
With a two-month Afcon 2025 break to follow Sunday’s fixture, a loss might force the club’s management to make a convenient decision on the two inexperienced co-coaches.