Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has explained the factors positioning the Soweto giants as genuine threats for the Betway Premiership title, pointing to a noticeable shift in the league’s competitive balance.
The Glamour Boys are in the heated title race in the league, tussling against rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns for the big prize. Chiefs are currently occupying the fourth place in the table with 30 points, having claimed eight wins, six draws, and one defeat in 15 matches.
The Naturena-based side is chasing Sekhukhune United, Sundowns, and Pirates, who are making up the top three on the log standings. As it stands, the Buccaneers are at the summit of the league table with 38 points, while Sundowns and Sekhukhune are second and third with 35 and 32 points, respectively. Chiefs have two games in hand over Pirates.
After finishing the past two seasons outside of the top eight on the log, Chiefs find themselves amongst the teams that can win the league that has been dominated by Masandawana for the past eight seasons.
Should Chiefs hit a rich vein of form, they could end their drought in the league after last winning the trophy back in 2015. Meanwhile, the Soweto giants are only left with the league to fight for, having missed out on all domestic cups and the CAF Confederation Cup.
WHAT BEN YOUSSEF SAID ABOUT CHIEFS’ CHANCES OF WINNING THE LEAGUE
Speaking on Tuesday at Naturena, Ben Youssef stressed that the competition is too tight this season while also pointing out that the CAF Champions League might overload the schedule of the defending champions, Sundowns.
“To be honest, this season, I feel like the level of teams is so close. Before, you’d feel a big difference, but now you see even in cup games, people think it’s a surprise [for the big three to be eliminated from the Nedbank Cup],” Ben Youssef said.
“For me, it wasn’t a surprise because the level of the teams is so close. In the last few years, Sundowns have always won the league, and they have more experience than the other teams.
“But now I think all teams have the chance of winning the league, and we have to continue to fight. It’s a long way, there are still 15 games left, and a lot of things can happen. Sundowns have the Champions League, us and Pirates have only the PSL now, and I hope that at the end of the season we will be lucky to be at the top.”
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