Kaizer Chiefs cry foul over packed schedule as injury concerns grow
9th February 2026
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Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has sounded the alarm over mounting injuries from a congested fixture list, arguing that relief in the domestic league should be automatic due to their heavy schedule.
Speaking after Amakhosi’s 2–1 victory over Al Masry in Polokwane, which sent them top of their CAF Confederation Cup group, Ben Youssef suggested Orlando Pirates appeared to have received more favourable treatment.
The Chiefs coach said squad rotation has become unavoidable in order to manage the heavy workload.
"We played five games or four games away, we are in a situation where we are coming back today, tomorrow we fly back. We don't have any training sessions, our players now for three weeks, two weeks they didn't make any training sessions,” Ben Youssef said.
“We play again, tomorrow rest or recovery then minus one you can do nothing then game. So, even when you prepare the fixtures, you have to think about the players, you have to think about the team.
“We have a situation as the Kaizer Chiefs team, we are playing this competition and we play all our PSL league games. I remember last season, lots of teams they play Champions League or cup games they changed the fixture, they changed the game, they continue last five games later.
“We are playing the CAF and we played almost all the games. Opponents in the other teams don't play anything and they have two or three games before us to be at the same number of games.
“So, I think Kaizer Chiefs is representing Bafana Bafana, we are representing South Africa, so we have to think also about the team."
Ben Youssef believes a little help from the PSL would go a long way – just as it was done for Pirates, he claimed indirectly.
"It's not an excuse but it's reality, if you want to improve, you have to help your team. Okay you are representing Kaizer Chiefs but also you are representing South Africa and what I'm asking to do, we did it last season, we did the same thing,” he added.
“I mean some teams in May, they played the last five, six games, this season we played 16 games, another team, I don't want to say the name, they have 15 games and they don't play nothing.
“If we represent Kaizer Chiefs, tell us that you represent Kaizer Chiefs but if you represent South Africa, tell us that you represent South Africa because in all the countries, I was playing in different countries, when you play CAF games, it's allowed for you to turn the fixtures. Check how many games they played, they have three games, check how many games they've played."
