Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Ben Youssef downplays title talk

The Tunisian tactician was assessing Amakhosi’s progress in 2025 after their goalless draw away to Chippa United in Gqeberha last night.

Victory would have lifted Chiefs to 25 points—just three behind leaders Orlando Pirates—but the stalemate leaves them five points adrift after 12 matches.

Ben Youssef maintains that a top-four finish is the most realistic target for a side that ended last season in ninth place...

"We didn't make a promise about a trophy. It's true that we are a big team that plays for the trophy every time, but we also have to be logical in the way we think. You can't come back to CAF competition after years away and expect to win the title. 

"In the PSL, we were ninth last season, so the first priority is to build step by step and aim for the top-four."

READ: Betway Premiership: Chippa United hold Kaizer Chiefs to a draw in Gqeberha

Under former coach Nasreddine Nabi, Chiefs ended a decade-long trophy drought by lifting the Nedbank Cup, whilst securing a return to continental football in the CAF Confederation Cup. Ben Youssef sees that success as the beginning of a broader transformation aimed at re-establishing a winning foundation.

Chiefs, however, squandered a significant chance to close the gap on the frontrunners when they failed to beat a Chippa side rooted to the bottom of the table.

Ben Youssef says against a desperate bottom-placed Chippa, it was not going to be easy and laments their lack of composure in the final third.

Ben Youssef also lamented the lost opportunity to enter the long AFCON break potentially level with Pirates on 28 points—an outcome that was well within reach had they collected maximum points in Gqeberha and in this weekend’s upcoming clash against TS Galaxy.

"In our meeting before these two games, the discussion was about keeping our high position on the log. I think all the players fought to try and win this game, but we played a good team, because they were also fighting desperately for points.

"We were unlucky not to score, but now the TS Galaxy result becomes very important for us."