COMMENT: Going to toe to toe with Mamelodi Sundowns signals growth for Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs might not have beaten Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night, but their goalless draw offered proof of progress — a disciplined display that suggested Amakhosi are finally narrowing the gap on the champions.

For the past seven years, Sundowns have dictated the rhythm of South African football. They have bullied opponents into submission with possession, pressed with precision and suffocated teams with quality in every department. 

In that same period, Chiefs have looked like a club trying to rebuild while constantly tripping over their own feet.

But Wednesday’s clash showed a new face of Amakhosi under Nasreddine Nabi. It was not a vintage attacking display, yet it was disciplined, structured and brave enough to hold its own against a team that has made winning look routine.

The defensive shape was compact, the midfield combative, and crucially, the lapses in concentration that have often cost Chiefs were nowhere to be seen. 

Against a Sundowns side that usually pounces on half-chances, that in itself is a statement.

This wasn’t a Chiefs side hoping for a lucky break; it was one that matched Sundowns stride for stride, tactically and physically. That’s a leap forward.

Of course, Sundowns are still the benchmark. They didn’t lose, and for large parts of the game they had more of the ball. But they were forced to play at Chiefs’ tempo. 

For once, Amakhosi dictated aspects of the contest instead of chasing shadows.

That’s why this draw feels different from the countless times Chiefs have clung on against Masandawana. The gap is closing, slowly but surely.

Nabi deserves credit for that shift. His side looked organised, motivated and clear in their purpose. Even the substitutions carried intent rather than desperation. That level of tactical maturity has been missing at Naturena for too long.

The challenge now is consistency. A single spirited performance against Sundowns is encouraging, but what will count is whether Chiefs can reproduce the same intensity against sides like Richards Bay and Golden Arrows — games where they are expected to dominate.

For Sundowns, the draw is unlikely to rattle their confidence. They remain favourites for the title. But for Chiefs, this felt like more than just a point. 

It was a yardstick — a chance to prove to themselves and their fans that they can look South Africa’s dominant force in the eye without flinching.

Football is about moments, and this one hinted at a changing tide. Chiefs are not yet the finished product. 

They still lack the ruthlessness up front and the depth Sundowns enjoy. But they have stopped being mere passengers in this rivalry.

The truth is, Amakhosi have taken a giant leap forward. On Wednesday, they looked like equals. And that alone signals that the winds at Naturena might finally be shifting in the right direction.