Kaizer Motaung Jr excited by Kaizer Chiefs return to continental stage

Amakhosi jetted off to Luanda yesterday, led by assistant coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze in the absence of head coach Nasreddine Nabi to face Angolan Girabola side Kabuscorp in the first preliminary round first leg. 

Chiefs’ last appearance in CAF Inter-club competitions was four years ago, when they finished as Champions League runners-up to Al Ahly, and Motaung says they want to be regulars at this level.

"It's a very special moment, and to be very fair, when we sat back a few seasons ago, we looked at the age of the squad, at the 5-10 year plan of where we wanted to go," explained Motaung Jr.

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"Last year marked when we sat down and said, we want to be back in Africa. How to get back in Africa? Finish in the top [three] or win the cup, and we managed to achieve that, it was part of our strategic goals.

"We're here, and I think a team of our size needs to feature in continental tournaments every season – I think that, for us, is the bar, it's where we want to be.

"We've already set our sights onto where we want to be next season, but we're back in Confed, and we have some fond memories of traveling on the continent – I mean to go all the way to the Champions League final in a time like Covid, which was very difficult.

"But I think every club wants to be the best on the continent and the best in the world, so we know there's three steps – be the best in your country; be the best on your continent; and the third and vital one is be the best club in the world.

"As a club, in any frame, those are the goals you have to set yourself, so we're very excited to be back, and we're looking forward to the African journey."