Kaizer Chiefs’ Season: Blowing Hot and Cold Ahead of Soweto Derby

Kaizer Chiefs’ 2024-25 season has been a rollercoaster ride, with the team showing moments of brilliance but also struggling with inconsistency. Despite changes made to the technical team at the start of the season, the Glamour Boys have failed to find a sustained rhythm, often blowing hot and cold.

One of the most anticipated fixtures in South African football, the Soweto Derby, is fast approaching. On February 1, Chiefs will travel to face their fierce rivals, Orlando Pirates, at the FNB Stadium. The clash is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams aiming to assert their dominance in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

However, Chiefs’ form this season has been far from perfect. While Orlando Pirates are having a solid campaign, currently sitting in second place and just three points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, Amakhosi find themselves trailing in the standings. With 18 points from 12 games, Chiefs are nine points behind Pirates, who have 27 points from 11 games. This gap highlights the work still needed for Chiefs to compete for top honors in the PSL.

The club’s assistant coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, remained focused on the immediate challenges, downplaying any concerns about the upcoming derby. “For us, there is Sekhukhune [United] next, after that a cup game, but we must focus on Sekhukhune first. We manage game by game, week by week,” Youssef told the media. His comments reflect the team’s emphasis on approaching each match individually, without looking too far ahead.

Before the derby, Chiefs will face Sekhukhune United in the league, followed by a Nedbank Cup tie against Free Agents in the Round of 32. These matches are crucial for Amakhosi to regain momentum and address the inconsistency that has plagued their campaign.

After a shock loss to Golden Arrows, Chiefs will be hoping to bounce back and secure vital points against Sekhukhune. At the same time, they will be wary of falling into another upset, like last season’s surprise exit in the Nedbank Cup at the hands of Milford FC.

With the Soweto Derby on the horizon, Chiefs know that defeating Pirates could reignite their season, but they must first navigate through their upcoming fixtures with confidence and focus. The challenge remains to find the right balance between their attacking potential and defensive stability to avoid more slip-ups in the run-up to the derby.