Chiefs Legends’ Pep Talk Proves Pivotal in Nedbank Cup Triumph

Kaizer Chiefs defender Dillan Solomons has credited the team’s Nedbank Cup win to a motivational conversation with the club’s legends, particularly Sphiwe Shabalala. 

The Amakhosi ended a 10-year trophy drought on Saturday, defeating Orlando Pirates 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Solomons played a crucial role in the victory, featuring for the full 90 minutes.

According to Solomons, the legends’ support was instrumental in the team’s success. 

“The conversation we had with Chiefs legends was more about using this moment to create our history as a team,” Solomons revealed. 

“They were motivating us, and having their support means a lot to us as players.” 

Solomons then praised Shabalala, saying, “As for Shabba (Sphiwe Shabalala) has been with us for a very long time, and he understands us a lot.”

The win has also secured Chiefs a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2025/26 season, a competition Solomons believes will be a significant challenge for the team. 

“It’s huge, it’s big for us as a team, and going forward, it means we have to play in Africa,” he added. 

While the team had initially aimed to qualify for the CAF Champions League, Solomons expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to compete in the Confederation Cup.

This marks a welcome return to CAF competitions for Chiefs, who last featured in the 2020/21 season. During that campaign, they reached the Champions League final, narrowly losing to Al Ahly under the guidance of South African coach Pitso Mosimane.

Solomons emphasized the importance of this achievement, saying, “I think this is a good moment for us because, since the beginning of the season, our objective was to play in CAF competition.”