Ben Youssef: Our Bid To Match Pirates’ Points Faded
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef admitted that their hopes were to finish the 2025 season with the same number of points as the log leaders, Orlando Pirates, but it didn’t happen as they played a draw against Chippa United on Wednesday.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys came into the game against Chill Boys with 22 points in 11 games, and a win would have seen them reach 25 points, with a further win against TS Galaxy this Sunday, potentially taking them to 28 points.
However, the draw means they will finish the year with less than 28 points, still trailing Pirates, who have 28 points, and they are the log leaders in the Betway Premiership.
“To be honest, in the meeting before this game we discussed the importance of these two games, to keep our position in the higher rank,” he said.
“But I think the players played to win this game; they did very well. We know we played against a good team, and they played well as they were fighting for the point, and we know the situation of Chippa in the PSL league.
“For us, I think these results are disappointing because we came here to win and get three points. As I said, we were unlucky not to score because we got a lot of chances to score, but we were unlucky.
“We have to correct that, and we have three days left for the game against TS Galaxy. Winning this game against Chippa would be a significant boost for us, but we have to continue to work.”
Despite the draw, the Tunisian mentor praised his team’s efforts, saying that they had done everything they could do to win.
“I think we introduced all our strikers as we started with (Flavio Da) Silva, then we made two substitutions in the second half as we introduced (Khanyisa) Mayo and (Etiosa) Ighodaro,” he added.
“As a winger, we started with (Mfundo) Vilakazi and (Asanele) Velebayi, then finished with (Mduduzi) Shabalala and (Pule) Mmodi. All our strikers were on the pitch; what they had to do was to create opportunities to score, and they did that.
“But we have to be more focused in the last third, then I think if we can be able to do that, then we can be able to score goals.
“Shabalala and Mayo had penetrations to switch, Shabalala on the right side, Mayo playing as a second striker, and sometimes Mayo going to the right side and Shabalala as a playmaker. It was a penetration between them; they had to be ready to switch.”
Amakhosi will now focus on their final game of the year against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, where they will be looking to end the year on a high note.
