Fans Turn on Kaizer Chiefs but things Aren’t As Bad As they Seem

It’s been a bumpy road for the Kaizer Chiefs since their 3-0 defeat to Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final back in July. Although AmaKhosi are sixth in the DStv Premiership after ten games, certain performances have irked fans. Indeed, the 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch FC on November 2 had some supporters calling for manager Stuart Baxter to be sacked. Fortunately, the Brit managed to temporarily silence his critics on November 6 thanks to an important win over Orlando Pirates.

A late second-half penalty helped Kaizer Chiefs win the Soweto derby 2-1 and lock up another three points. However, despite the win, there appears to be an underlying air of tension and discontent surrounding the club. Only a few weeks before the Orlando Pirates win, Baxter was urging his players to erase costly defensive mistakes. To some extent, it’s these underlying weaknesses that have made the Chiefs look fragile and incapable of winning the league.

Kaizer Chiefs Are Far from the Betting Underdogs

The betting experts tend to agree. Unibet has one of the best online casinos in South Africa. In the same way, Springbok Casino and Spin247 have generous welcome bonuses, Unibet offers newbies a 100% deposit bonus as well as access to 500+ games. However, what this operator also does well is track the latest football results. In fact, the oddsmakers at Unibet Sport cover all the major leagues, including the DStv Premiership. As such, they too have been following the Kaizer Chiefs recent string of results.

Leading up to the Pirates clash, Unibet had the Kaizer Chiefs at +190. In contrast, the Orlando Pirates were tipped at +174. Although the Pirates were only seen as slight favourites going into the match, they were the betting favourites, nonetheless. Given that the two teams are neck-and-neck in the league, this suggests that confidence in the Chiefs is low at the moment. Of course, we all know how the match ended. Therefore, it’s likely there’s been a shift in recent days.

The Results Aren’t Bad but Fans Want Change

What’s more, we can’t forget that the Pirates finished third in the DStv Premiership last season, while the Chiefs were down in eighth. Based on these factors, the air of discontent surrounding the club might be unjustified. However, as anyone who knows Kaizer Chiefs will tell you, the fans demand excellence. The shock defeat to Stellenbosch not only ended a four-game winning run but stirred emotions. Fans aren’t happy with Baxter, and many believe the players are lacking motivation.

Recent results and the betting odds suggest that the situation isn’t as dire as some might assume. However, football is a game where support from the fans is paramount. If they’re not happy, things have to change. What changes are unclear at this stage. Removing Baxter could be one. Bringing in new defenders could be another. The clear thing, however, is that Kaizer Chiefs are in a state of flux and, if they’re ever going to challenge for the title, changes have to be made.