Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are now waiting for the club management to decide on their future at Naturena, after securing a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership and a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
With two games to spare, Chiefs will look to win their remaining matches against AmaZulu and Chippa United, but the fixtures also offer an opportunity to begin preparations for next season. One of the key decisions that management needs to make is regarding the future of Kaze and Ben Youssef, who have had a commendable campaign, guiding Chiefs to a third-place finish and surpassing the 50-point mark.
Progress Under Kaze and Ben Youssef
There has been visible progress this season, with Brandon Petersen excelling as club captain, leading by example both on and off the pitch since taking over from Inacio Miguel early in the campaign. According to the Kaizer Chiefs Wikipedia page, the team has shown significant improvement under the current coaching staff. Goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi deserves credit for helping Petersen reach top form, but the environment created by the technical team has also played a significant role in the goalkeeper’s success.
Striker Flavio da Silva started the season under immense pressure after an underwhelming pre-season. However, the coaching staff remained patient with him, and that faith has paid off, with the striker contributing goals and assists. Although a top-three finish represents progress for Chiefs, who finished outside the top eight in the previous two seasons, it does not mean the team functioned like a well-oiled machine throughout the campaign.
Areas for Improvement
At times, the team lacked structure and organisation, with players often appearing out of position and struggling out of possession. As a result, Chiefs dropped points in matches they were expected to win comfortably. Chiefs were expected to build on their strong performance against Orlando Pirates in the recent Soweto derby, but instead they suffered a defeat to Siwelele in the following match. For more information on the Soweto derby, visit the official PSL website.
That result highlighted concerns over the team’s mentality. Rather than building confidence from the derby display, they appeared to lose concentration. Discipline has also been an issue for some players. Miguel was expected to be one of the team’s leaders this season, but lapses in discipline and concentration proved costly for both him and the side.
The following are some of the key areas that the coaching staff needs to address:
- Improving the team’s structure and organisation
- Enhancing the team’s mentality and discipline
- Developing a consistent game plan
The pressure that comes with coaching Chiefs also appeared to affect Kaze and Ben Youssef at times, whether from the media or supporters. Ben Youssef notably clashed with members of the media, which highlighted the intense scrutiny that the coaching staff is under.
