The Kaizer Chiefs team will return to action in the Betway Premiership against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday. This match features an intriguing plot involving former coach Cedric Khase.
Khase returns to this arena just a few months after leaving the Chiefs squad, now leading Sekhukhune and aiming to maintain a perfect start for his team in the championship. This Burundian coach was previously part of the Chiefs technical staff last season, leaving at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
He has now returned to Johannesburg with Sekhukhune, where he has already secured a league victory over Durban City, and subsequently guided the team into the MTN8 semi-finals after defeating AmaZulu.
Club Situation
Meanwhile, Chiefs must quickly recover from their disappointment in the MTN8 tournament. Amakhosi lost to Golden Arrows at the FNB stadium on Sunday, ending their hopes of winning the trophy after returning to competition after two years away.
Defender Riv Froesler admitted the loss was unpleasant but stressed that Chiefs cannot afford to dwell on it. He stated: "Losing the MTN8 game was not ideal, but we must move on to the next match; we still have another chance to get there and do what we need to do, and try to achieve a positive result."
At the start of the Betway Premiership season, Chiefs won 3-1 against the newly promoted Kruger United; goals were scored by Vandile Dube, who scored twice after coming off the bench, and Flavio Da Silva.
Froesler believes that the focus now must be on improvements, rather than letting the weekend's failure undermine the start of the league campaign. He added: "We are disappointed, but we must look ahead to Sekhukhune, and then to another big match this weekend, but focus on the next one and improve what we need to."
This match takes place during a period of high workload for Fernando Da Cruz's team, which plays three matches in six days. One commentator noted that negative feedback is understandable but insisted on the need for patience with the coach and players, as a long season lies ahead.
Da Silva's availability remains uncertain, as the coach reported his injury during training, while Ethan Chislett rested from the match against Arrows so the team could manage its load. New player Langelihle Phili also debuted against Arrows, although Da Cruz indicated that the winger is not yet fully ready and requires a cautious approach.
Before the match against Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend, Chiefs must find a balance between player recovery and maintaining momentum. For Khase, Wednesday presents an opportunity to utilize his knowledge of the Chiefs squad and achieve another important result for Sekhukhune.
However, Chiefs hope that familiarity with the environment will work in their favor as they try to turn Sunday's disappointment into a positive response. Both teams won their opening league matches, but Chiefs enter Wednesday with a greater sense of urgency. A win would help restore momentum and ensure that the exit from MTN8 does not overshadow a promising start to the league campaign.
