Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson has weighed in on whether
his old club is ready to mount a serious challenge for the Betway
Premiership title this season.
A recent 4-1 victory over Orbit College propelled the Soweto giants to third
in the standings, sparking optimism among supporters. With Chiefs sitting
just three points behind log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns—who have also played
one more game—hopes are rising that the “Glamour Boys” could be in the title
race.
However, Johnson urges caution. Speaking exclusively to PSLSA, he stated
that it’s too early to make a definitive judgment.
“They’ve invested a lot in the last two seasons and got rid of a lot of
players; it looks like the team is doing well now,” Johnson acknowledged.
“Yes, they are third, but you cannot judge whether they would challenge or
not. I don’t think we’re half-way through the season yet. To judge them now
would be premature.”
Despite his cautious tone, Johnson did recognize the clear progress being
made after two seasons where Chiefs finished outside the top eight.
“They are doing well and good luck to them,” he said. “They are third, they
are mixing with the teams they should have been mixing with for the last ten
years. They are showing a lot of signs of positives on the ground, and they
must be happy with that.”
Chiefs’ season has been eventful, having parted ways with former head coach
Nasreddine Nabi early on. The team is now under the caretaker guidance of
his former assistants, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
The team’s schedule is about to become more demanding. After the
international break, their focus shifts to the CAF Confederation Cup group
stage, with an away match against Al Masry followed by a home fixture
against Zamalek. In the league, they have only one confirmed match against
Chippa United before the Africa Cup of Nations break, while a fixture
against Magesi is likely to be postponed.
