Ben Youssef hails luck and resilience as Kaizer Chiefs beat 10-man Stellenbosch

Kaizer Chiefs’ caretaker coach Khalid Ben Youssef revealed that luck played a crucial role in their success as they fought off a determined 10-man Stellenbosch side to run out 2-0 winners at Athlone Stadium on Sunday evening.

It turned out to be a memorable weekend for the Amakhosi, as they enjoyed a precarious yet triumphant Premiership victory, while their Gauteng rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, dropped points.

The match took an early turn in Chiefs’ favour when Nkosingiphile Ngcobo scored a stunning free-kick just 14 minutes into the game, shortly after Stellenbosch defender Siviwe Nkwali was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mduduzi Shabalala, who was goal-bound.

The numerical advantage might have seemed a gift for Chiefs, but they quickly realised that facing a side reduced to 10 men is never straightforward.

“It’s tough to play against a team with a player who has been sent off because when you then score, our players think that the game is going to be easier,” Ben Youssef remarked.

He emphasised the challenge his players faced in maintaining focus, as Stellenbosch dominated possession and came close to equalising — at least four scoring attempts struck the woodwork.

“We found some difficulty in the first half, and we were lucky they didn’t score,” he admitted. However, at half-time, a tactical shift saw Ngcobo replaced by Sibongiseni Mthethwa, whose introduction bolstered the Chiefs’ midfield and led to a more balanced second half.

“I was so proud of the performance of our players, and also the players coming from the bench. We discussed that before the game in our meeting — we need the players coming in from the bench to help us,” Ben Youssef added, highlighting the squad’s depth.

The match concluded with Chiefs benefiting from a late penalty, which Glody Lilepo expertly converted to seal the two-goal victory. Remarkably, this win marks their fifth consecutive away triumph against Stellenbosch, underlining Chiefs’ dominance at the Winelands club’s home ground.

Looking ahead to their next fixture against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm), Ben Youssef expressed hope that new signings Ethan Chislett, Nkanyiso Shinga and Flavio Silva would be registered in time, pending work permits.

“I think when our new players are available, it will be better for us. They will give us more solutions, we are waiting for them, and we will continue to work,” he said.

Chiefs’ young centre-back Aden McCarthy dedicated his Player of the Match award to head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his father Fabian McCarthy, a Chiefs legend who also played at centre-back.

The 21-year-old, who previously captained the Chiefs DDC team, was making only his second start for the senior side.

“This one is for my family — my mother, my father and my brother — but also most importantly for coach Nabi. He couldn’t be here with us today,” he said.

“We’ve had a long process, a long journey since pre-season, but we’ve overcome the mental game, so now it’s just a show on the field, and (Sunday) you saw it.”