Kaze and Ben Youssef eye historic points haul as Kaizer Chiefs chase Baxter’s 2015 benchmark

Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are not everyone’s ideal combination at the Naturena-based outfit. However, they could finish the season better than most of their predecessors over the past decade, save for the last championship-winning coach, Stuart Baxter, which would be a noteworthy contribution to the club from the duo.

Currently third on the log with 39 points after 21 games, Chiefs could mathematically finish the season with 66 points, if they win their remaining nine matches. That will in all probability still see them fall short of the league title, as Mamelodi Sundowns (on 56 points) are on a 10-match winning streak in the tournament. Second-placed Orlando Pirates are scoring at will and are thus keeping pace with defending champions, separated only by two points.

Crucially, Chiefs must face both clubs in the coming weeks.

Nonetheless, a 66-point finish would still be a considerable achievement. Chiefs would surely secure a Top 3 finish with such a tally, while also qualifying for continental football next season, most likely the CAF Confederation Cup.

Such a run would please Kaze, who has previously indicated that a third-place finish would allow him to leave the club satisfied, should executive management decide against extending his and Ben Yousseff's stay beyond the current season.

Moreover, a 66-point haul would mark the team’s best league campaign since they won the title under Stuart Baxter in the 2014/15 season. During that campaign, they collected 69 points, after winning 21 matches, and playing to six draws and three loses. They scored 41 goals during that season, while conceding 14.

Kaze has already stressed that the team has done well to be in their current position. So far they have won 11 games, with six draws and four losses. The immediate target to improve upon, will be Ernst Middendorp’s second-place finish, with 57 points, in the 2019/2020 season, which was largely built on a direct, long-ball approach – something the current technical team has moved away from.

Of course, achieving that target is easier said than done, even thought Chiefs have built some momentum in recent outings by winning their last three games in a row. While the performances have not always been convincing, results have still gone their way.

More encouraging for Amakhosi is their improved scoring form. They have scored more than once in their last two matches, beating Magesi 2-0 and Orbit College FC 3-1. That has improved their goal difference to plus-nine, after having now scored 22 goals to the 13 conceded.

They will need to build on this momentum and scoring form when they host TS Galaxy in the league at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3pm kick-off).

REMAINING FIXTURES

APRIL

• Saturday: v TS Galaxy @ FNB Stadium
• Wednesday: v Magesi FC @ Peter Mokaba Stadium
• 18: v Polokwane City @ Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
• 26: v Orlando Pirates @ FNB Stadium
• 29: v Siwelele @ Free State Toyota Stadium

MAY

• 6: v Mamelodi Sundowns @ Loftus Versfeld Stadium
• 10: v Sekhukhune United @ Peter Mokaba Stadium
• 16: v AmaZulu @ Moses Mabhida Stadium
• 23: v Chippa United @ FNB Stadium