Extra Time: There is still hope that Kaizer Chiefs can get their act together to remember this season as a success, argues Michael Madyira.
Kaizer Chiefs are almost assured to end the 2023-24 football season empty-handed after missing out on the MTN8, Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup.
Their chances of lifting the PSL title look very slim, with Mamelodi Sundowns likely to defend their number one spot.
The Brazilians have 17 points more than Chiefs and two games in hand.
It has been a difficult season for Amakhosi, who have now gone for nine years without claiming any silverware.
That has ramped up the pressure on players and caretaker coach Cavin Johnson.
Even the Naturena bosses are enduring the wrath of the ever-demanding Chiefs fans.
But there is still something big to play for.
The Soweto giants will have something to cheer about this season, if only they can get their act together.
At stake now for Chiefs is securing a CAF Champions League spot for next term.
That means they have to finish second on the PSL table – and it looks possible so far.
Going back to Africa will go some way to appease their success-starved fans and at least help ease the agony of having their trophy cabinet gathering dust.
With 10 league games remaining before the conclusion of the current campaign, there are still 30 points on offer for Chiefs.
They have four points fewer than second-placed Orlando Pirates and that is not too wide a gap to close.
The other serious contenders for second spot are Stellenbosch, SuperSport United and Cape Town City.
Having been eliminated from the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs have a huge advantage over Pirates, Stellies and City who are still sharing responsibilities between the league campaign and this knockout competition.
That means Amakhosi can fully focus on securing the runners-up berth without divided attention.
From their remaining 10 league fixtures, they have City, Supersport and Sundowns as some of their opponents to worry about.
But if Chiefs play those games the way they did in the Soweto Derby against Pirates last weekend, it looks promising for them.
Yes, they were on the losing end against the Buccaneers, but they brought a dynamic style of football to the match that they hadn’t displayed all season.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs in action against AmaZulu.
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
