Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef Satisfied With Progress Made at Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are set to complete their work for the 2025/26 season feeling encouraged by the progress made at the club despite facing one final challenge this weekend. The Amakhosi technical team will guide the side into their last Premier Soccer League match against Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday with third place already secured. While some sections of the Kaizer Chiefs fanbase have questioned whether Kaze and Ben Youssef possess the profile needed to lead such a massive club, the numbers from the season suggest clear progress. Chiefs have improved significantly compared to previous campaigns and are once again preparing for continental football after years of disappointment. Their achievements this season have created renewed optimism around Naturena, even though the coaching duo understands there is still much work to do before the club can challenge consistently for major honours again.

One of the biggest achievements of the season has been Kaizer Chiefs’ rise from ninth place last season to third position in the current campaign. That improvement represents a major step forward for a club that has spent several years struggling with inconsistency both on and off the pitch. Chiefs can still finish the season with 57 points, which would equal their joint-second-highest points tally since winning the league title 11 years ago. This achievement becomes even more significant when compared to the performances of previous coaches who were unable to guide the club to similar levels of success. Steve Komphela managed a highest total of 50 points during his three seasons in charge, while Giovanni Solinas and Ernst Middendorp reached 39 points together. Other recent coaching spells under Gavin Hunt, Stuart Baxter, Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki, Cavin Johnson and Nasreddine Nabi also produced lower returns than what Kaze and Ben Youssef have achieved this season.

The improvement shown by Chiefs has not only been visible in league position but also in the overall competitiveness of the team. Last season, the club finished 41 points behind the league champions, which highlighted the massive gap between Amakhosi and the country’s top sides. This season, that difference has been reduced dramatically to between 11 and 15 points, depending on final results. Such progress reflects better organisation, stronger defensive structure and improved consistency across the campaign. Chiefs have also won at least half of their league matches for the first time since Ernst Middendorp’s last spell at the club. Those statistics suggest that the team is finally moving in the right direction after years of instability and underachievement.

Despite the improvement, Cedric Kaze has admitted that the season could have been even better. Chiefs drew nine league matches during the campaign, and converting just a portion of those draws into victories would have placed the club firmly in the title race. Kaze acknowledged that while the season should be viewed positively, the coaching staff remains aware of the areas that require improvement. He explained that valuable lessons have been learned throughout the campaign and that those experiences will help shape the future direction of the club. The technical team believes they have established an important foundation that can help Chiefs compete more seriously for trophies in the coming seasons. That sense of long-term planning appears central to the vision currently being developed at Naturena.

Another factor that deserves recognition is the ability of Kaze and Ben Youssef to steady the atmosphere around the squad. Kaizer Chiefs is one of the biggest football clubs in Africa, and the pressure that comes with coaching the team is enormous. Every dropped point is heavily criticised, while supporters demand immediate success after years without major league triumphs. In such an environment, maintaining focus and improving performances gradually can be extremely difficult. The coaching duo has managed to keep the team competitive despite constant scrutiny from supporters and analysts who questioned their credentials. Their calm approach and willingness to focus on steady progress rather than emotional reactions have helped create greater stability within the squad.

The return to continental football is another important milestone for Kaizer Chiefs. Competing in Africa again will not only boost the club’s reputation but also provide players with valuable experience against stronger opposition from across the continent. Participation in continental competitions can also help attract better players and strengthen the club’s long-term ambitions. For supporters, qualification represents proof that the club is slowly rebuilding into a serious force again after several disappointing years. The coaching staff will understand that expectations will become even higher next season because fans will now expect continued progress rather than another rebuilding campaign. That challenge will test whether the improvements seen this season can be sustained over a longer period.

Saturday’s final league match against Chippa United will therefore carry significance beyond just three points. It offers Kaizer Chiefs an opportunity to close the season strongly and reinforce the positive momentum created during the campaign. A victory would further underline the progress made under Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef while giving supporters additional confidence heading into the next season. Although critics remain divided over whether the coaching duo is the long-term solution for the club, their results this season provide strong evidence that meaningful improvement has taken place. The journey back to the top of South African football remains unfinished, but Chiefs now appear far closer to becoming genuine contenders again. Kaze and Ben Youssef may still face another hurdle before the season officially ends, but they can already look back on a campaign that restored belief, improved performances and laid foundations for a more competitive future at Kaizer Chiefs.