Underfire Kaizer Chiefs interim mentor Cavin Johnson remains confident of sealing a CAF spot despite potentially flirting with relegation. Chiefs succumbed to yet another defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Richards Bay FC and the coach is still adamant about a top-three finish. Johnson also believes the lady luck will eventually smile on them as they have lost three matches in a row in the DStv Premiership.
As things stand, Amakhosi are placed 10th on the log standings and are on the verge of finishing outside of the top eight should they fail to collect maximum points in their remaining matches. The Glamour Boys now have six games left to complete this season as they have registered 10 defeats so far.
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Can Chiefs Avoid Relegation and Seal the CAF Spot?
Despite All the challenges facing the Soweto bigshots, the former Platinum Stars mentor insists they haven’t thrown in the towel on their chances of securing continental football next season. Chiefs now trail third-placed rivals, Orlando Pirates by 10 points as Jose Riveiro looks to topple Stellenbosch FC from position two and qualify for the CAF Champions League, not the Confederation Cup which comes with third place.
Johnson is convinced that their problems emanate from failing to convert chances and the caretaker manager felt they dominated Bay but only failed to score. “I never say goodbye until the last game. For us that [earning a CAF spot] isn’t out of our way and the players know that. It is a major pressure that we are under now but we have to break the pressure bubble somewhere,” Johnson said.
“The tide has to turn for Kaizer Chiefs somewhere. We have to get better in front of goals because as far as ball possession is concerned and as far as playing the right players is concerned, I don’t think we are making mistakes. Again, it was one of those games where your opposition has one chance and gets a goal whereas you have 85% ball possession [in fact they had 63%] and you are not able to win the game.”
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“We are very angry with ourselves. I think we should have won the game in the first half because we got into the box quite a few times and we lacked calmness.”
Johnson Heaps Praise on Youngster Vilakazi
Speaking about the 18-year-old youngster, Mfundo Vilakazi who came on for Pule Mmodi in the 66th minute. The former DStv Diski Challenge star and dribbling wizard, who’s just penned a new deal that will keep him at Chiefs until 2028, showed flashes of brilliance.
“I think he [Vilakazi] did a lot. I think he made the fans happy. We need to give him a little bit more time to settle in on the field with Kaizer Chiefs,” Johnson said.
Up next for the Naturena-based Chiefs is a clash against SuperSport United who are yet to win a league match in 2024. The two PSL sides will lock horns at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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