Khanye Warns Chiefs Could Miss Out On Top E…

Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze during the Betway Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has raised concerns about the club’s chances of finishing inside the Top Eight following their recent slump in the Betway Premiership.

Amakhosi have slipped to sixth place on the standings after failing to collect a single point in their last three matches, a run of results that has placed increased pressure on the Soweto giants as the season enters its crucial phase.

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Khanye believes the team’s current struggles are not new, insisting the problems at Chiefs have been building for years.

“Kaizer Chiefs’ problems didn’t start yesterday, but have been ongoing for some time,” Khanye said.

“Since the club had the likes of (Giovanni) Solinas, Ernst Middendorp, and Stuart Baxter coaching the team, back in those days, the team’s style of play got affected big time.”

The outspoken former attacker believes poor decisions over the years – particularly in the recruitment of both coaches and players – have contributed to the current situation.

“The situation we are seeing now at Chiefs is a result of a number of factors, with wrong decisions having been made on both coaches and the players that are being brought to the club,” he said.

Khanye was also critical of the quality within the current squad, claiming many players are not performing at the level expected at a club of Chiefs’ stature.

“Most of the players in Chiefs’ squad as we speak are average and, in my opinion, they don’t deserve to play for the team,” he said.

“You can argue with me all you want, but you can’t tell me that players who finish a game against Richards Bay FC without a single shot on target are good enough to play for a club as big as Chiefs, never.”

Khanye also referenced the team’s struggles in high-profile encounters, including their recent clash with rivals Orlando Pirates.

“You go for an entire first half against your rivals Orlando Pirates without having a corner kick, and you want to tell me that you are good enough to play for Chiefs? No, never,” he said.

“In such a big game, where you should automatically get motivated, that can’t happen.”

The former winger compared the current squad with the Chiefs side he played in, which included several high-profile and influential players.

“The Chiefs that I played for – the club that had players like Tinashe Nengomasha, Patrick Mabedi and Collins Mbesuma and all the international players the team used to have – would have done way better,” he said.

Khanye added that he has not been convinced by the team’s performances under the current interim technical team of Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.

With Chiefs having started the season promisingly, Khanye warned that their place in the Top Eight is no longer assured.

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“Now the team is fighting for a place in the Top Eight and it’s not going to be easy. The spot in the Top Eight is now not guaranteed despite their promising start to the season, and something needs to change,” he said.

Amakhosi will have an opportunity to get their campaign back on track when they host Durban City at FNB Stadium on March 15, a match that could prove crucial in their bid to secure a Top Eight finish. 

Photo by Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix 

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