Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango has made a bold Betway Premiership title claim ahead of their clash against Richards Bay at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday (19:30) and Royal AM on Saturday at the same venue. 

The Glamour Boys have won two of their five matches played in the league and currently sit in ninth place with seven points accumulated as they are in desperate need of maximum points to end their three-game winless streak. 

Following a disastrous 2023/24 campaign where they recorded their worst-ever league finish in 10th place, the Naturena-based side will be keen to make amends and have a respectable season under new coach Nasreddine Nabi. However, Nabi’s charges are already 14 points adrift of their unbeaten arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at the summit of the table but Msimango is confident that the gap can be closed, stating that they are happy with their display despite results not reflecting improvements. 

“It’s still a wide and open league for me in my opinion, congratulations to Orlando Pirates they’ve shown a good level of consistency that they didn’t show last season, hence they are where they are at the top of the log, ” asserted the Chiefs center-back. 

“For us, it’s to try to get to the same level if not better in terms of consistency because we are happy with our performances despite the results. We just need to get a bit of consistency in terms of how we win and close games off so we can start collecting three points regularly.”  

The former TS Galaxy captain went on to hail the Tunisian tactician for the impact he has made at the club in the early stages of his tenure, highlighting how his teammates are executing the coach’s style of play as he cites youngsters’ performances as an example. 

“There’s a little bit of intensity now compared to last season, you can see the type of character the coach is, always demands a lot from his players, articulate in his preparations and what he wants, not to say last season was different but he brings in a bit more energy, ” said Msimango. 

“I think the guys are responding to that [Nabi’s tactics], especially the younger ones like Mdu Shabalala, Samkelo Zwane, Wandile Duba, they are adapting very well, they are shining so it shows the impact he has brought into the club irrespective of who is playing or not.” 

With Miguel Inacio suspended, Msimango will be hoping to stake his claim in the team after he fell down the pecking order upon Nabi’s arrival at the club at the start of the season, having featured twice this term in contrast to his 30 appearances last season.