Motaung sets season’s target for struggling Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Kaze and Ben Youssef

Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr has made it clear that this season’s target is CAF Champions League qualification.

Chiefs are enduring a tough campaign as they are currently in sixth place on the PSL table with 30 points, 14 behind joint leaders Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Further, they have been eliminated from the Nedbank Cup, Carling Knockout as well as CAF Confederation Cup while the title race seems to be over.

This despite entering February as one of the title contenders and also leading their Confederation Cup group, Chiefs are out of all competitions after five losses in their last six matches, including three straight in the league, left them in a spot of bother.

However, Motaung Jr has made it clear that the much-maligned co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze must secure Champions League football for next season.

Motaung Jr targets Champions League

“The stance is that the coaches understand the responsibility that faces them, they understand the results must come and they must come quick,” he said on the Kaizer Chiefs Radio

“As a club, we’re constantly evaluating ourselves, our processes and there’s a ton of work that has been done behind the scenes, which is one thing people must know.

“It’s not just about coaches, it’s not just about players, it’s about our whole footballing structure – you can’t look at certain things in insolation, the club is making sure we put ourselves in the best position to finish as strong as we can this year,” added Motaung.

“We know we want to be in the CAF Champions League next year; we have certain targets we set for ourselves, evaluating where we are now, what needs to be done to get there and trust me, there’s a lot of work being done right now as we speak,” he said.

Chiefs boss addresses fans’ concerns

“I understand the frustrations and people want answers, and it’s about results, we need results and they must come quickly – that’s a fact.”

Chiefs finished 10^th in 2023-24 and ninth last season but with 30 points from 18 games, they are on course to surpass their tally of 32 in the whole of 2024-25.

However, supporters have expressed disappointment in the manner things have been run at the club and the Sporting Director has addressed some of those concerns.

“We’re not going to sit here and say we need patience from the fans; we understand that supporters are hurting and have been patient with us, but internally, for the players it’s about getting together, being together and fight,” he added.

What gives Sporting Director hope?

“Just like it’s three league games on the trot [losing], we can win three or four on the trot, that’s football and it’s all about what we do right now, coming together, we know the task that faces us. It’s not about if and what’s, it’s about you do. Win the next game and we’re back up there.

“That’s the immediate focus, how do we get back on the ground, three points, we have Durban City coming to FNB, then Magesi after that, that’s our immediate focus. We want to finish in the Champions League position, that is the goal.”

Securing Champions League football would mean finishing in the top two but that looks to be a stretch at the moment even if Chiefs have a game in hand but they have a chance of sealing a top three finish as Sekhukhune United (33 points), Durban City (32 points) and AmaZulu (31 points) who are ahead of them have played two matches more.

A top three finish would guarantee them another spot in the CAF Confederation Cup given fourth place might not be safe as they are out of the Nedbank Cup.