By Dylan Bettencourt
- Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in February, but Amakhosi have won five recent games since then.
- Kaizer Chiefs sit in third place on the log and want a Sunday win for the CAF Confederation Cup tournament.
Kaizer Chiefs are hunting for a win.
The team faces Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
It is a chance to bounce back. Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs by three goals to zero on 28 February.
That loss ended a terrible month for the team from Naturena. They were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup. Things looked so bad that co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze almost lost their jobs.
But the team fought back. After losing to Richards Bay, they won five games in a row and scored 12 goals.
They played to a goalless draw against Polokwane City in their last game.
Coach Ben Youssef says his players are in a much better place now.
“In the first game we were in a bad moment. Now there is a big difference,” he said.
He said the team with the fewest mistakes and the most hunger will win the derby.
Having fewer injuries has helped the players find form. Ben Youssef said it is hard for a coach when players get hurt and force changes.
Kaizer Chiefs have kept the same squad for the last six games. Players like Wandile Duba, Mduduzi Shabalala, Glody Lilepo and Flavio Silva are playing well.
The team is in third place. They are 12 points behind Orlando Pirates and 11 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns. They have a seven-point lead over AmaZulu in fourth place.
They want to stay in third place to qualify for the next CAF Confederation Cup.
Ben Youssef said the team wants to make their supporters proud.
“We don’t have fans, we have families,” he said. “This is a moment to give them back some joy and hope.”
Pictured above: Khalil Ben Youssef.
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
