Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has expressed his confidence in the team’s progress despite a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership, citing a significant improvement from last season’s ninth-place finish. The Soweto giants concluded their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Kaze and his co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef were appointed after the club and Nasreddine Nabi mutually agreed to part ways, with their mandate being to steady the team and complete the campaign. The pair have delivered a stronger league finish, but Kaze acknowledges that the campaign still fell short of what Kaizer Chiefs should demand.
Future Plans and Expectations
The co-coach confirmed that a review meeting with the club’s hierarchy is imminent, where the technical report and recommendations for the future will be tabled. Kaze stated that the report will include recommendations about what should be done to meet the high expectations for next season, as the club needs to play for trophies. According to the Kaizer Chiefs official website, the team has a rich history of success and a loyal fan base.
Assessing the Season
Kaze expressed his pride in the team’s performance, highlighting the progress made since he and Ben Youssef took over. He noted that the youngsters played very well and that the future is bright for them. However, Kaze admitted that he is not happy with the season, citing that the team could have done better in some matches and should have won trophies.
The co-coach also mentioned that the team has brought back belief and pride, and now is the time to look for those trophies. With uncertainty still surrounding the technical team’s future, Chiefs now shift focus to a crucial off-season review that will determine whether Kaze and Ben Youssef continue into next season.
Some of the key areas that the team needs to improve on include:
- Consistency in performance
- Converting chances into goals
- Defensive solidity
Kaze is hopeful that the team can address these areas and come back stronger next season. As the Kaizer Chiefs Wikipedia page notes, the team has a long history of competing at the highest level in South African football.
