Khalil Ben Youssef, coach of Kaizer Chiefs skipper Brandon Petersen during the Betway Premiership press conference at The Venue, Houghton on Thursday.
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Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef insists the team will approach the upcoming Soweto derby against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates "like any other game," arguing that maintaining focus is key to their season plans.
Chiefs will visit Pirates at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off). The derby is high-stakes, as Pirates are chasing the Betway Premiership title while Chiefs look to secure a crucial top-three finish.
A thrilling contest is further expected, as both teams are in form. Chiefs have won five and drawn one of their last six matches, while Pirates have recorded three wins and two draws in their last five outings. With Chiefs also eager to avenge an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture, they are expected to give Pirates a run for their money.
Ben Youssef, however, is not getting carried away by the idea that a derby victory will be the team’s turning point this season. He insists they will respect the occasion but remain focused on their usual game plan and chasing the three points.
"It’s only three points,” Ben Youssef said at the official pre-match press conference at The Venue, Johannesburg, on Thursday afternoon. “If we beat Orlando Pirates, will they give us the title or six points? It won’t change anything major.
“For us, it’s a league game. Yes, it’s the derby – there’ll be one team in Soweto, us or them. But it’s still the league game. Our target has been clear from the first day of the season: we take each game as it comes.
“We don’t have to change our targets by winning one game, and start discussing winning the league. Or you lose one game, and start destroying everything.”