Kaizer Chiefs players warned – ‘Top eight is not guaranteed’

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has voiced serious concerns about the club’s prospects of securing a top-eight finish in the PSL following a recent downturn in form.

The Soweto giants have dropped to sixth on the league table after a three-match losing streak, intensifying the pressure as the season approaches its critical final stages.

Khanye argues that the team’s current difficulties are not a recent development but rather the culmination of long-standing issues at the club.

“Kaizer Chiefs’ problems didn’t start yesterday, but have been ongoing for some time,” Khanye stated as per Soccer Laduma.

Kaizer Chiefs players termed ‘average’

The outspoken pundit attributes the club’s decline to years of poor decision-making, particularly regarding the recruitment of both coaches and players.

“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 explained.

Khanye was also critical of the current squad’s quality, asserting that many players are not meeting the high standards 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.

Amakhosi’s struggles against big boys

He highlighted the team’s poor showing in big matches, pointing to their recent Soweto derby performance against Orlando Pirates as a key example.

“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,” Khanye remarked.

Drawing a comparison with his era, the former winger recalled a time when the team was filled with influential, high-calibre talent.

“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 reflected.

Can Kaizer Chiefs secure top eight?

Khanye also expressed his lack of confidence in the interim technical team, led by Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, to turn things around.

Despite a promising start to the campaign, he warned that a top-eight finish is now in jeopardy.

“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 concluded.

Amakhosi will look to reignite their season when they face Durban City at FNB Stadium on March 15, a fixture that could be pivotal in their quest for a top-eight finish.