Ben Youssef Prioritizes Mental Readiness For Soweto Derby
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has emphasised the importance of mental readiness as his side prepares for a sold-out Soweto Derby clash against Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Amakhosi head into the highly anticipated second-round encounter determined to turn the tide after suffering a heavy 3–0 defeat to Pirates in February at the same venue. That loss was followed by two more consecutive defeats.
However, the situation has improved significantly since then. Chiefs have rebuilt momentum and confidence, putting together an impressive run of results in recent weeks.
Amakhosi have won five of their last six matches, with one draw, and currently sit third on the table with 46 points from 24 league games this season.
This resurgence has not only strengthened their position in the standings but also restored belief within the squad ahead of one of the biggest fixtures on the calendar.
“I think the first thing is mental readiness. When you are mentally ready, you can do everything, but if you are not, you can do nothing,” he said.
“The first derby came when we were coming off poor results in the CAF Confederation Cup, and we had also lost against Stellenbosch. We had a lot of injuries. We’ve been unlucky in recent months because of that.
“Now the team is back, the whole squad is available, and that has shown in recent weeks with our consistency. The results have improved, and so have the performances. I think we are doing well.
“In the first derby, the momentum was not there, but now it is. The players are performing well, and everyone wants to show they are ready to play. I believe Sunday will be different, and we will be looking for a win.”
Ben Youssef also expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparations, highlighting the importance of maintaining their current form and delivering for the supporters.
“I think the preparations have been very good. We understand the importance of this game, and everyone wants to show they are ready,” he added.
“We are coming off a strong run of matches, so we need to maintain that consistency and those results. I hope that on Sunday we will be ready to perform well and make our supporters proud.”
