Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates midfielder Jabu Mahlangu has shared his thoughts on who has stood out for Amakhosi this season, providing structure, balance and belief behind their improved performances.
After 16 league matches in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership, Chiefs sit in fourth place with 30 points, trailing league leaders Orlando Pirates and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.
The team’s transformation has been anchored by a solid defense; goalkeeper Brandon Petersen notably matched historic club records by keeping clean sheets in the first five league games of the season, contributing to a total of 15 shutouts across 27 matches in all competitions by early February 2026.
However, Chiefs are winless in their last two games across all competitions. They suffered a defeat against Zamalek SC, which saw them exit the CAF Confederation Cup in the group phase, before falling to a disappointing 2-1 loss against Stellenbosch in their most recent outing. These poor results come as they prepare for the Soweto Derby against Pirates this Saturday at the FNB Stadium.
According to Mahlangu, the team’s resurgence began with defensive stability and has been bolstered by the addition of experienced personnel in key areas of the squad.
The former attacker believes that last season’s success was pivotal in shifting the mindset at Naturena, instilling a newfound confidence in the players ahead of the new campaign. Last season, Chiefs finally ended their decade-long trophy drought by clinching the Nedbank Cup under the guidance of head coach Nasreddine Nabi.
BRANDON PETERSEN, LEBOHANG MABOE AND SIPHESIHLE NDLOVU EARN JABU MAHLANGU’S NOD
Speaking on the Jabu Mahlangu and iDiski Shandis podcast, Mahlangu broke down the individuals who have impressed him most and explained why Chiefs’ recent decisions have made sense.
“Building a team starts from the back, then midfielders and the attack,” said Mahlangu. “The stats are saying it all, goalkeeper Brandon Petesen, I think now he is on nine clean sheets. That is a big record. I think Itumeleng Khune held records like that. Petersen actually did not concede any goals in the first five matches of this season. That was another record.
“I still feel that other players, Maboe and Ndlovu, brought some stability. Yes, I was expecting a bit from [Thabo] Cele. I don’t want to lie. I also believe his early injury affected him.
“But I believe these two guys, Ndlovu and especially Maboe comes from Mamelodi Sundowns with a winning mentality with all those trophies. That brought something very different to Kaizer Chiefs in terms of their approach and belief. As long as we are solid defensively, we can score.
“Another massive factor we should mention is that the Nedbank Cup Chiefs won last season. Winning that cup brought massive confidence. Imagine if they didn’t win it? Imagine if they lost in the final? How was it going to affect them coming into the new season? I think it was a turning point for the guys to start believing.
“I know some fans were unhappy when the January transfer window came and went without signings. People saw Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns sign players. But I think bringing in new players was going to create a bit of confusion. I think management did the right thing. The squad was going to be destabilised,” Mahlangu added.
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