A Soweto derby of redemption for Cedric Kaze, Khalil Ben Youssef, and Abdeslam Ouaddou

There was a time when I thought neither Kaizer Chiefs’ co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef nor their Orlando Pirates counterpart Abdeslam Ouaddou would get here. But alas, they have defied my thoughts – and it’s now time for me to eat humble pie even more.

Kaze and Ben Youssef are set to host Ouaddou in the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday night – a first for both sets of men as coaches of the biggest clubs in South Africa.

It has already been a long journey in the season, one in which many, including myself, didn’t think the trio would live to see the revered derby this month.

When Chiefs appointed Kaze and Ben Youssef as co-coaches until the end of the season, I seriously thought that was a joke. For them to sack the duo’s former master, Nasreddine Nabi, who fought hard to bring them to the club, only to retain and promote them was simply unfathomable.

I didn’t think they only showed betrayal instincts by deciding to remain at Chiefs when Nabi walked the plank, but that it was predatory as they fed off a hierarchy desperate for a quick-fix.

Because, how could they have deemed themselves good enough to coach Chiefs when, even with a third person – who was and is still revered across the continent – still failed, with their only success being the Nedbank Cup last season, while finishing 10th in the Betway Premiership?

But somehow – not entirely – they have proven me wrong, and that it was not them, but Nabi, who was the problem.

Granted, Chiefs are not a well-oiled product, and that will take a while, and some doing. But the duo has led them into a title challenge in the league – something that had become foreign to our eyes since Ernst Middendorp bottled the title on the last day of the season in 2020.

Chiefs’ title run hasn’t been smooth. They have created some of the most chances in the league this season. Yet, they average one goal per match, having scored 16 goals in 16 games so far this season.

It’s a problematic situation. They’ve dropped points, crashed out of tournaments – recently the Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup – which they should have progressed in, a feat highlighting the bluntness of their strikers in the final third.

But they haven’t been bad all round. Their defensive organisation has incredibly improved this season, with Brandon Petersen on a run of 11 clean sheets in 16 league matches. Hence, he’s making a strong case to be the Bafana Bafana third choice at the upcoming Fifa World Cup in June.

Granted, the duo is set to coach the team in 14 games, including the Soweto derby, before the club makes the call on their respective futures, but they can give themselves a pat on the back for getting this far with the team and in the league.

I am sure that Ouaddou knows that as well. When the Moroccan was appointed as the Sea Robbers’ coach at the start of the season, I wasn’t sold. I believed that Jose Riveiro needed to be succeeded by someone who would build on his foundation and take the team to the promised land, dethroning Sundowns.

So, I will admit – and apologise – I misjudged Ouaddou. He has proven that one can emulate the successful footprint of his predecessor, but still infuse his philosophy, including in his wardrobe.

When Ouaddou arrived at Pirates, he wore baggy clothes on the touchline, almost instantly overwhelmed by the pressure, unlike the Ouaddou now, who’s smartly fitted into tight pants, posing composure and calm after stamping his authority.

The doubts over Ouaddou’s prowess intensified when he lost back-to-back league matches – a poor start in Pirates’ biggest quest this season. Him being involved in a horrific car accident, resulting in him wearing an arm sling and cast, was jokingly associated with the “physical knocks” he was getting at the club.

But boy, the man made us, his detractors, eat humble pie. Instead of resembling a bruised man due to his elbow brace, Ouaddou became “The Terminator”, beating all that came his way en route to winning two cups – the MTN8 and Carling Knockout – and finishing top of the standings in the first half of the season.

Ouaddou’s road to redemption and stamping his authority at the club has taken knocks along the way. He failed to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage, lost to Sundowns at home in the league and crashed out of the Nedbank Cup to minnows.

But not all is lost. A domestic treble – the most impressive cup collection in a single season in the land – is still up for grabs. Given all the hardships he’s had to overcome to steer the Sea Robbers to calmer waters at the moment, I would be foolish betting against Ouaddou achieving that feat.

Along the way, he and his Chiefs counterparts have proven to every doubting Thomas, including myself, why they deserve to be where they are now. But the journey shouldn’t end there – they should ensure that their on-pitch action adds to the cacophonous atmosphere expected to unfold at the Calabash.

*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch