Mokete Tsotetsi Urges Patience with Khalil Ben Youssef at Kaizer Chiefs
Mokete Tsotetsi, head coach of the University of Free State and the newly crowned FNB Varsity Cup champions, has called for more patience with Khalil Ben Youssef, the assistant coach at Kaizer Chiefs. Tsotetsi believes Youssef needs additional time to refine the team’s strategies and stabilize performance.
Kaizer Chiefs began the season strongly under Youssef’s guidance, but injuries to key players, including Thabiso Monyane, and the absence of several new signings caused momentum to falter. The recent Carling Knockout Cup elimination has sparked debate over the coaching structure, including the roles of Cedric Kaze and Ben Youssef.
“Assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has performed well with Chiefs in the past, even before Nasreddine Nabi took over. This season, when Nabi was absent for five matches, Youssef stepped in and did well again,” Tsotetsi said.
Tsotetsi acknowledges current struggles but highlights Youssef’s dedication. “Things might not be going smoothly for him right now, but you can see the effort he’s putting in. He needs more time with the team, and we trust him. Eventually, he will get it right.”
The Free State coach noted that player performance is equally important. “As a coach, you can only do so much; the players need to do their part as well. What makes me happy is that the Chiefs players are working extremely hard this season and showing great determination.”
He emphasized the competitive nature of playing for Chiefs. “Playing for Chiefs is a challenge on its own. Every player on the opposing team wants to beat Chiefs because they see it as an opportunity to prove themselves. They’re not performing poorly under Youssef; you can see that they create chances in every game.”
Kaizer Chiefs will look to regain consistency after the FIFA international break when they face Simba FC in the CAF Confederation Cup. Tsotetsi’s remarks underline the need for continuity and trust in coaching to maintain the club’s competitive edge.
