Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs have struggled for consistency this season and currently sit sixth on the Betway Premiership table after 18 matches.
The pressure has increased after the team suffered four defeats in a row across all competitions.
KAIZER CHIEFS EXPECTATIONS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef took charge of the team in October following the mutual departure of Nasreddine Nabi.
Under Nabi, Amakhosi finished ninth in the 2024/25 campaign but still managed to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the Nedbank Cup. It was the club’s first title in 10 years since lifting the league title under former coach Stuart Baxter in 2015.
Recently, Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr indicated that the current technical team is expected to guide the club back into continental football next season.
Mahlangu believes that ambition may be unrealistic for now. “Firstly, it was good to hear the Sporting Director being ambitious; speaking the way he spoke about how the team still has high hopes. They still want to compete against the best in the African continent,” Mahlangu said on SABC Sport’s Soccer Zone.
“The mandate they gave the co-coaches, for me, that is where I have a concern. Is it realistic? Personally, I don’t think it’s realistic.
“I say this because I think for now, for this season, Chiefs should have just been fighting to finish in the top eight and then build from there.”
A LONG ROAD BACK TO THE TOP
Despite their struggles, Kaizer Chiefs still have games in hand over several rivals above them on the table.
That includes matches against teams chasing the same continental qualification places. Amakhosi will get another opportunity to improve their position when they host Durban City at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Also read: Confirmed: Kaizer Chiefs players missing from the latest 37-man Bafana Bafana squad
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