Junior Khanye gives rare praise to Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has praised his ex-team for their significant improvement this season, giving special credit to interim co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.

The duo took charge after the club parted ways with Nasreddine Nabi in September 2025. Under their leadership, Chiefs reached the CAF Confederation Cup group stages and have now secured a third-place finish in the PSL with two games remaining.

This achievement guarantees their return to the Confederation Cup next season and marks the first time in three years that the Naturena-based club will finish inside the top eight.

Khanye highlighted the coaches’ impact and singled out goalkeeper Brandon Petersen for his standout performances, while noting the squad’s overall willingness to learn.

Khanye gives Chiefs co-coaches their flowers

Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef have earned praise from Junior Khanye. — Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“If we are being honest, this is a much better season,” Khanye stated on iDiski TV. “These two coaches and their players worked hard compared to last season. They are now in position three and confirmed a CAF Confederation Cup spot.”

The analyst contrasted the current success with the previous campaign under Nabi, who failed to secure a top-eight finish.

“We have to give the coaches credit because even [Nasreddine] Nabi failed to finish in the top eight,” he added. “We give the coaches credit because they won so many games and never lost so many games as well.”

Petersen’s form was a key factor in the team’s resurgence, according to Khanye, who praised the keeper’s crucial saves in high-profile matches.

Petersen praised for lifting Amakhosi

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen during the Soweto Derby. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“Well done to Petersen, he’s also improved; we must also give him credit because he wasn’t like this last season,” Khanye explained.

“The goalkeeping position is very important. Sometimes your team is not playing well, but if you don’t concede, it helps.” “Well done to Petersen; in the game against Pirates he stood out, and even against Sundowns he stood out. Truly speaking, they needed a goalkeeper.”

Khanye concluded by reiterating that while the entire team showed tactical improvement, the goalkeeper’s contributions were exceptional.

“As a team, they were coachable in terms of getting things right tactically, but the goalkeeper was the one who raised his hand. So, to answer you, this year is much better from Kaizer Chiefs for winning more games than they did last season,” said the controversial analyst.