Kaizer Chiefs player Glody Lilepo challenges for the ball against Amazulu FC midfielder Mlondi Mbanjwa,during the Betway Premiership League match.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Kaizer Chiefs may have already reached their target of qualifying for continental football, but their professionalism and desire to improve on their last impressive points tally (57) compels them to grind for results in the last two matches, though it will be hard.
Chiefs are currently third on the log with 51 points – a tally that was enough to ensure that they cement the spot and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
Given their shortcomings in the past few campaigns, including finishing outside the Top 8 in the last two seasons, Amakhosi have done relatively well to be where they are on the log this season.
Things could get better for Chiefs. They could reach 57 points and equal their best recent tally from the 2019/20 season when they finished second on the log under coach Ernst Middendorp.
To achieve that feat, they need to win their last two games against AmaZulu FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm) and Chippa United at the same venue, same kick-off time next Saturday.
Reeve Frosler, who’s one of the few surviving members from that squad which lost out on the title to Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day of the season, revealed why it will be important to try and match the 57-point tally this season.
“It’s going to be a good building block for us,” Frosler said. “We haven’t reached that amount of points in the last five or six years. If we can win these last two games, they’ll take us to 57 and we’ll be on par with what almost got us the league.
“We’ll also know what will be at stake for next season. So, if we can build on that, we’ll also go on to improve and move higher up the log standings.”
Given that Chiefs have already overcome criticism and negativity to achieve the third-place finish, they understandably feel that they’ve done well this season. Frosler, though, highlighted that it’ll be crucial to maintain their momentum.
“It’s going to be difficult to stay motivated – our aim was to finish in the top three, and we have successfully managed to do that now,” Frosler admitted. “It will be a little bit challenging, but I think as professionals, we’ll still do the job.
“The more we continue to win games, the better for our club. The more we continue doing well, the sooner we’ll be able to start the next phase of things.”
Chiefs won’t have it easy in the last two games, starting with the clash against AmaZulu, who are fighting to consolidate their fourth-place finish on the log, aligning with the vision of club president Sandile Zungu, who wants the club to be among the Top 4 in the country.
“We just need to continue to do what we need to do; how we’ve practised and prepared throughout the week. We need to stick to our plan and go out there,” Frosler said.
“We know that they are going to come out and play because they are fighting for their position on the log. So, it won’t be easy. We just need to be ready and do what we’ve been practising by sticking to it on Saturday.”