Khalil Ben Youssef explains how Kaizer Chiefs outwitted ZESCO

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Khalil Ben Youssef explains how Kaizer Chiefs outwitted ZESCO

Kaizer Chiefs coach Khalil Ben Youssef says the team’s spirit won them their CAF Confederation Cup game over Zambian giants ZESCO United on Sunday.

Chiefs beat ZESCO 1-0 to eliminate them from the competition with two games to go while boosting their hopes of making it to the quarter-final following Glody Lilepo’s 14th minute goal.

The Glamour Boys could not find the second goal and were second best in the second half when ZESCO threatened a comeback with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen pulling off some key saves to keep them in the game.

Pule Mmodi of Kaizer Chiefs playing against ZESCO United.

Chiefs coach delighted with team spirit

Ben Youssef is delighted by the spirit shown by his team who were playing a third game in seven days, having won 1-0 against ZESCO the previous Sunday before beating Marumo Gallants by the same score line on Wednesday.

“It’s not me, it’s the players. I think we have to say congratulations to the players,” Ben Youssef said on SABC1.

“We were outside of our house, we are always in CAF playing every two days. We said before the game that we will need all our players to win the game, so congratulations to them, congratulations to the staff, the fitness coach, the doctor for the work they are doing.

“It’s not easy to manage that to see how we finished the game, we were so tired but when the heart is here and you play to win the game nothing can stop you.

No time to rest for the Glamour Boys

“We are happy for the fans, we are happy for the team. Now we have to think about the Nedbank Cup against Stellenbosch after two days.

Mfundo Vilakazi in action against ZESCO United.

“We don’t have time to take a rest, we have continue to work. Congrats to the players, I’m so proud of them.”

Chiefs will play away to Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday before hosting Al Masry on Sunday, a tough run of fixtures that will test their mettle.

The Soweto giants now have seven points in their Confederation Cup group, same as Al Masry, while Zamalek lead the log with eight. 

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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