Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze feels the team had done ‘an incredible job’ before the February collapse.
Amakhosi were second in the Betway Premiership, having won their opening two league matches of 2026. With the team challenging for the league and CAF Confederation Cup, Amakhosi faithful had faith that perhaps another trophy was coming to Naturena.
What followed were four consecutive defeats, which saw the Soweto giants eliminated from two cup competitions in a space of a week.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Kaze felt all was not lost as his team could still finish third in the league.
“Today we are in sixth position and the one in third [Sekhukhune United] is three points ahead us, we have two games in hand,” said the Chiefs coach.
“I am not saying we will win those games but we will try everything we do and for me as a coach, if this team finishes top three at the end of the season, I can even leave and say that I have accomplished what no one has accomplished in the last 10 years,” he said.
Chiefs coach aims a dig at Mazenyo
In the past 10 years, Amakhosi have only finished runner-ups once, and that was in 2020 under Ernst Middendorp. Under “Mazinyo”, Chiefs led the Betway Premiership until the last day, where they lost it to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
The German coach was let go by Chiefs after some fans felt his football was dull and outdated. Kaze has also added that Middendorp’s team relied heavily on set-pieces.
“But there was someone who finished second. I think four, five years ago, but he finished second with 22 goals on set-pieces,” the Burundian coach said.
“A lot of long balls but at the end of the season if we finish top three, we leave and say that we have done an incredible job.”