Kaizer Chiefs told to forget PSL title – ‘The maximum they can reach is top four’

Former Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has delivered a stark assessment of the club’s prospects, stating that Amakhosi are not in a position to win the league next season and are still several years from mounting a serious title challenge.

The Tunisian tactician, who recently departed the club alongside Cedric Kaze, played a role in guiding the Soweto giants to a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership last season—their best result in six years.

However, despite this achievement, Ben Youssef urged for a dose of realism regarding the team’s current capabilities.

In an interview with Andile Ncube on Metro FM, he emphasised the need for honesty with the fanbase.

“The problem with Kaizer Chiefs is between being realistic and ambitious,” said Ben Youssef.

Why Kaizer Chiefs are not ready to compete

“We have the ambition to win everything, but we need to also be realistic. The squad that Kaizer Chiefs had during this season and last season, the maximum they can reach is the top four.

“If you compare the quality between Sundowns and Orlando [Pirates], the gap is huge because you will work and try to improve players, but there’s individual quality. It’s either you have it, or you don’t have it,” continued Ben Youssef.

Ben Youssef then explained the gulf in quality between Chiefs and rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates and how the two leading clubs in the country go about their business.

“I mean, when Sundowns had problems, and they needed a striker, they put money and immediately brought [Brayan] Leon, and after he played against Pirates, he scored two goals,” he went on.

What do the Glamour Boys need to do?

“And the best players in the PSL, you will find them at Orlando Pirates, and if you see now in [the] Bafana Bafana [2026 FIFA World Cup squad], it’s 30% and 40% Pirates and Sundowns [players]; the other 30% is other teams.

“As Kaizer Chiefs, we only have one player [Bradley Cross] at Bafana sitting on the bench; he doesn’t play. I said to them [Chiefs management], the day you have five or six players in Bafana playing, starting games, know that you are ready to compete for trophies.”

The Tunisian mentor has advised Chiefs to show ambition if they want to end their long wait for the PSL title as winning cups is not a true measure of success.

“Winning the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup, or any cup is not something we can build on. Magesi FC won the Carling Cup a season before, and they have been relegated,” Ben Youssef further stated.

“For Chiefs, if you want to compete for the PSL title, you bring money and get six top players, then you can be ready to compete, or you continue bringing players that are not 100% ready to continue building, and after three years, maybe the team will be ready to win something.”