Kaizer Chiefs head to Loftus tonight with a chance to derail the Mamelodi Sundowns title train. While Amakhosi are focused on securing 3rd place and a CAF spot, a result here would be a massive gift for Orlando Pirates. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Kaizer Chiefs may not be in the title race but they could yet have a decisive say in where the Betway Premiership crown ends up.
Amakhosi travel to Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday evening to face Mamelodi Sundowns, knowing that a positive result could swing momentum in favour of Orlando Pirates in the final stretch of the season. It is an unusual position. Helping their Soweto rivals is not a motivating factor for Chiefs — and it is not one they are entertaining publicly either.
“We don’t care who wins the league. It’s their (Sundowns and Pirates’) problem,” said co-coach Ben Khalil Youssef, following their recent Soweto Derby draw.
That stance reflects the reality at Naturena.
Chiefs’ focus is not on the title — but on securing their own objectives. With four matches remaining, they are well-placed to finish third and book a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, sitting five points clear of AmaZulu FC in fourth. Yet, their recent form raises questions.
After a seven-match unbeaten run, Chiefs have collected just two points from their last three outings, including a 2-0 defeat to Siwelele — a result that halted their momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign.
That makes this clash about more than just the title race. It is also about response.
Chiefs have shown this season that they are capable of competing with top opposition. They held Sundowns to a goalless draw earlier in the campaign and eliminated them in last season’s Nedbank Cup semifinal — results that offer some belief heading into this fixture. But history, particularly in the league, tells a different story.
Sundowns have dominated this matchup in recent years. Since Chiefs’ last league win over the Brazilians in April 2021, Masandawana have won seven of the last nine Premiership meetings, drawing the other two.
In that period, they have scored 18 goals while conceding just four. It is a record that underlines the size of the challenge. Still, Sundowns are not without pressure.
Despite chasing a ninth consecutive league title, there have been signs of tension, particularly in their recent win over Polokwane City. With Pirates pushing them closely, there is little margin for error. That is where Chiefs could become a factor.
If Amakhosi can rediscover the form that saw them win five consecutive league matches, they have the structure and tactical discipline to frustrate Sundowns — much like they did in the Soweto Derby. And in a title race defined by fine margins, that may be enough.
Because while Chiefs insist the title race is not their concern, their performance at Loftus could still shape it. Whether they intend to or not.