Kaizer Chiefs will be under pressure to break their losing streak when they face Durban City in the Betway Premiership.
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Kaizer Chiefs’ season is delicately poised between success and disappointment, and unless results improve soon, the progress they showed earlier in the campaign could quickly begin to unravel.
In what feels like the flick of a switch, the club’s fortunes have taken a dramatic turn. Amakhosi have gone from the highs of competing near the top of the table to facing the possibility of a fourth consecutive defeat in the league — something that has never occurred in the club’s history. The situation has left them in urgent need of a turnaround.
The campaign has been defined by dramatic highs and lows. From the departure of Nasreddine Nabi to a period where the team appeared capable of challenging for the league title and making a strong run in the Caf Confederation Cup, they now find themselves confronting the uncomfortable reality of battling simply to secure a place in the top eight.
What once seemed like a season full of promise has now become a test of resilience for the club, with pressure steadily mounting on the coaching staff, players and, to some extent, management to steady the ship.
Their upcoming Betway Premiership clash against Durban City in just over a week could prove crucial in easing some of that pressure. A positive result would not only bring an end to their worrying run of form but could also help calm the growing unrest surrounding the club.
While scrutiny around the team’s performances continues to intensify, the season is far from over. There is still enough time for the club to recover and finish the campaign strongly, but there are three key areas they must address if they are to launch a strong finish to the season.
For much of the campaign, the Glamour Boys have made numerous changes to their starting eleven, and with 12 matches still remaining, it is concerning that Cedric Kaze and his co-coaching partner Khalil Ben Youssef have yet to fully settle on their preferred line-up.
This has played a significant role in their struggles during the second half of the season.
Regular playing time breeds confidence, but constant changes from one match to the next have prevented players from building rhythm and understanding. As a result, the team has often looked disjointed in several of their performances.
For a club of this stature and the standards it represents, it is concerning for players to simply look lost for ideas on the back of their shortcomings, particularly with the level of pressure that has now descended on everyone associated with the club.
In their recent league defeats against Orlando Pirates and Richards Bay FC, the players showed a concerning lack of fight. In contrast, their neighbours — despite having a squad that includes several new players and a relatively new coach — have managed to gel quickly, while Chiefs have struggled to find any real consistency with some of their new arrivals over the past year.
It is difficult to justify that a squad with so much quality could travel to face Richards Bay and fail to register a single shot on target throughout the entire match. Ultimately, it comes down to players taking responsibility and fighting for the pride of the club.
It was always likely that their narrow and hard-fought victories would eventually catch up with them. Once again, the players must take responsibility and convert the chances they create.
During many of their spells of dominance, Chiefs have struggled to capitalise on opportunities and have often been punished when opponents respond.
A return of just 16 goals in 18 matches is simply not good enough and must become one of the primary areas of focus for both Kaze and Ben Youssef as they resume their Premiership campaign, with hopes of finishing in the top three still within reach.
* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch