While Kaizer Chiefs may have fallen out of the Betway Premiership title race, there is still plenty to play for this season for Amakhosi.
Let’s take a look at the best – and worst – possible scenarios for the Soweto giants this season.
Kaizer Chiefs currently sit fifth in the latest Betway Premiership standings.
They have 33 points from 19 matches and lie just one point behind fourth-placed AmaZulu FC and third-ranked Sekhukhune United. Importantly, they have two games in hand over both those sides.
If Kaizer Chiefs were to win those matches, they would move as high as third on the log.
In the PSL, the team that finishes third qualifies for the next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, making this a realistic and valuable target.
Realistically, the Soweto giant’s title ambitions are over.
Amakhosi are 17 points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have 50 points from 21 matches.
Even if Kaizer Chiefs win both their games in hand over Masandawana, they would still trail by 11 points with just nine matches remaining.
In their favour is two matches against bottom-ranked Magesi FC and one against second-from-bottom Orbit College – all in their next four fixtures.
They do however still have to play both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
Latest Betway Premiership standings
WORST CASE: MISSING OUT ON MTN8
The worst-case scenario for Kaizer Chiefs would be failing to qualify for the MTN8 next season.
While unlikely, it is not impossible. Stranger things have certainly happened!
Amakhosi recently lost three Betway Premiership matches in a row, showing inconsistency at a crucial stage of the campaign.
However, they are currently nine points clear of Golden Arrows, who sit ninth, and they still have a game in hand.
This makes a drop out of the top eight improbable … or is it?
A more realistic worst-case scenario would be a sixth or seventh finish.
TS Galaxy are on 25 points in eighth place, but have played two matches more than Kaizer Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City have 29 points from 20 matches in seventh place and Durban City have 32 points from 21 matches in sixth.
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Kaizer Chiefs’ remaining Betway Premiership fixtures
21 March vs Magesi FC, Moses Mabhida Stadium – 18:00
7 April vs Orbit College, Royal Bafokeng Stadium – 19:30
12 April vs TS Galaxy, FNB Stadium – 15:00
15 April vs Magesi FC, Peter Mokaba Stadium – 19:30
18 April vs Polokwane City, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium – 20:00
25 April vs Orlando Pirates, FNB Stadium – 15:00
28 April vs Siwelele FC, Free State Stadium – 19:30
6 May vs Mamelodi Sundowns, Lofts Versfeld – 19:30
10 May vs Sekhukhune United, Peter Mokaba Stadium – 17:30
16 May vs AmaZulu, Moses Mobhida Stadium – 15:00
23 May vs Chippa United, FNB Stadium – 15:00