Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has shed light on the seven-month wait for midfielder Ethan Chislett to make his competitive debut for the club.
The former Port Vale star joined the Soweto giants ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season following a standout campaign in England. He played a pivotal role in helping Port Vale to secure promotion to League One.
Despite arriving with high expectations at Chiefs on a two-year contract [plus an option to extend], Chislett remained sidelined for the bulk of the season.
Chislett finally made his long-awaited debut for Chiefs on Tuesday night at FNB Stadium. While his personal performance was a silver lining, it came during a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in their Betway Premiership tie.
The 27-year-old lasted 70 minutes, showcasing his versatility as a creative 10 and a box-to-box eight, before being replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala in the second half.
His debut was further delayed by an injury sustained early in the campaign.
The midfielder’s absence from the matchday squads became a growing point of contention [debate] among Chiefs fans.
WHAT KHALIL BEN YOUSSEF SAID ABOUT ETHAN CHISLETT’S DEBUT FOR KAIZER CHIEFS
Following a satisfying performance in his long-awaited debut on Tuesday night, Ben Youssef pulled back the curtain on the delay, emphasised that the coaching staff prioritised the player’s readiness over immediate gratification.
The coach went to state that the seven-month hiatus was a calculated period of preparation designed to ensure Chislett didn’t just play, but dominated.
Ben Youssef further noted that the 27-year-old midfielder was “one of the best players” on the night.
To top it off, the strategy seemed to have paid off, as Chislett looked sharp, composed, and fully integrated into the system.
“The reason it took seven months to introduce him [Ethan Chislett] is that we wanted him to be good and to have his best moments, like you saw today. He was one of the best players tonight [referring to Tuesday night],” said Ben Youssef.
Following Tuesday’s decent displays, Chislett will be hoping to be in the starting lineup when Chiefs face a mammoth task on Saturday, 28 February, when they host arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium. The kick off for this much-awaited showdown is scheduled for 15:30.
With 16 matches played, Chiefs find themselves fourth in the Betway Premiership table. Their 30-point tally leaves them eight points adrift of Mamelodi Sundowns. The defending champions currently share the top of the log with Pirates, both of whom have 38 points from 17 matches.
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