Inacio Miguel confident Kaizer Chiefs have depth to cope with continental challenge

Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel believes his side has the right blend of balance, experience and depth to cope with the demanding challenge of competing in both the CAF Confederation Cup and the domestic league this season.

Amakhosi discovered their group-stage opponents following Monday’s official draw, marking a long-awaited return to continental football group stages for the Soweto giants. It will be their first campaign on the African stage since reaching the CAF Champions League final in 2021.

The Glamour Boys have been drawn in a challenging group alongside Egyptian sides Al Masry and Zamalek, with Zambia’s Zesco United completing the lineup. Chiefs booked their spot in the group stages with an impressive 3-1 aggregate win over AS Simba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and with their strong start to the Betway Premiership season, the challenge of managing a packed fixture list now looms large.

It’s a challenge the club had anticipated. After lifting the Nedbank Cup last season to secure their return to continental football, Chiefs strengthened across all departments to ensure adequate depth for what promises to be a gruelling campaign.

With long trips and tight turnarounds ahead, effective squad rotation and maintaining intensity across all competitions will be key.

Miguel expects a tough road ahead but is confident that the club’s pre-season planning and recruitment will pay off as the campaign intensifies.

“It is difficult because we are in the middle of the teams in Africa,” Miguel said after the draw. “Any team that we face now will be a difficult game, but we are Kaizer Chiefs, one of the biggest clubs in Africa, and we are ready for the challenge.

“The board and the coaches were very smart in terms of building a bigger squad than last season to be able to manage the three competitions had we gone further with the cup (Carling Knockout).

“This season we have the option to rotate the players because we will have a lot of travel playing the CAF games, but we have a big enough squad to make the changes when needed.”

While consistency has occasionally eluded them, the Glamour Boys have shown notable improvement compared to last season. Their structure and organisation look sharper, and the team is developing a stronger sense of understanding and confidence on the pitch.

Miguel, who has been part of Chiefs’ rebuilding process over the past season, believes continuity has been key to their progress.

“The fact that we worked together last season — we were in a process, and we’re still in the middle of that process — means we’re starting to know and understand each other,” he explained.

“The pre-season helped a lot in that regard, and I think the biggest difference between last season and this season is understanding my teammates and what the team needs. That has played a huge role in our performance — not individually, but as a team.”

The 29-year-old also credited the growing competition for places as a major factor behind the team’s improved performances.

“We have two or three players per position, and that forces us to be better at every training session and every single game,” he said. “The fact that we have more players than last season will bring the best out of the team because we each know that you cannot relax — otherwise someone will take your position.”