Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has responded to questions about whether Amakhosi are title contenders this season, saying the team will continue to fight — and that results will ultimately speak for themselves.
Chiefs moved up to third place in the Betway Premiership after snatching a late 1–0 victory over Durban City in front of a healthy crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday night.
Flavio da Silva came off the bench to combine brilliantly with Gaston Sirino, who delivered a superb cross that the Portuguese-born striker headed past Darren Keet.
It was Chiefs’ first league win since August, ending a run of three consecutive draws. Coincidentally, Da Silva was also the match-winner the last time Chiefs collected maximum points — also at Moses Mabhida Stadium — when they beat Golden Arrows, having again come off the bench to score.
Amakhosi, now third on the log, have collected 19 points from 10 matches — one behind second-placed Sekhukhune United, who lost 1–0 to Siwelele on Friday, and two behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
However, Sundowns will host fourth-placed Orlando Pirates in a highly anticipated clash at Loftus Stadium on Saturday.
“Every season, the target for a big team like Kaizer Chiefs is the same,” said Ben Youssef.
“We compete in every competition we play — the Carling Knockout, the Nedbank Cup, the league, and the CAF Confederation Cup. Unfortunately, we are already out of the Carling Knockout, but we keep going.”
Chiefs have also advanced to the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup and will discover their group opponents when the draw takes place at the SuperSport TV studios on Monday.
Ben Youssef added: “In every game, we fight and we compete. We’re not only thinking about the title. Recently, we were struggling with draws before the Durban City match, but now we came here and won. We’ll keep fighting and see where the results take us.”
Chiefs now turn their attention to Orbit College, whom they will face at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
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