Kaizer Chiefs can secure their place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup with a victory over Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, the report says.
The report says Amakhosi must finish third in the Premiership to guarantee Confederation Cup football for a second successive season. Chiefs are currently third with 48 points from 27 matches, five clear of fourth-placed AmaZulu and six ahead of Sekhukhune, per the report. Durban City have already qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup via the Nedbank Cup, leaving the remaining Confed spot to the league’s third-placed side, the report adds.
Form has been mixed for Chiefs lately, the report says. They drew 1-1 with Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday and also shared a 1-1 draw in the Soweto Derby with Orlando Pirates on April 26. Those results were separated by a 2-0 home loss to Siwelele on April 29, and the report notes Chiefs have now gone four matches without a win. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen made five saves in the Sundowns draw and six in the prior draw with Pirates, the report says.
Coaching continuity remains an issue, per the report. Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze have served as co-head coaches since Nasreddine Nabi left following Chiefs’ first defeat of the season, a 3-1 loss to Sekhukhune in September, and the pair have been unable to keep Amakhosi in the title race as Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are certain to claim the two CAF Champions League spots regardless of who wins the Premiership, the report says.
Team news ahead of kick-off includes Mduduzi Shabalala being set for surgery after a lunge from Jayden Adams forced him off in the first half against Sundowns, while Siphesihle Ndlovu is suspended owing to an accumulation of yellow cards, the report says. Sekhukhune have yet to welcome striker Bradley Grobler back from injury, per the report. The match is scheduled for Sunday, May 10 at 17:30 CAT (15:30 GMT) and will air on SuperSport PSL (DStv channel 202), the report says.
