EXCLUSIVE | Shongwe: Kaizer Chiefs are showing clear improvement this season

Kaizer Chiefs are better than they were last season, according to former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper William Shongwe, after assessing the team’s last two campaigns.

The Amakhosi have been under major scrutiny this season following a tumultuous second half of 2025. They are currently managed by co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, who took over following the dismissal of Nasreddine Nabi.

The duo have had to work with the squad inherited from their predecessor, which includes a mix of senior players and new signings brought in during the winter transfer window.

Under those circumstances – and given that they were navigating uncharted territory as co-coaches – Ben Youssef and Kaze have led the club to fourth place in the Betway Premiership at its halfway mark, as well as third place in their CAF Confederation Cup group.

Despite those promising results, some members of the football fraternity, including sections of the Amakhosi faithful, still debate whether Chiefs have improved in recent months.

Speaking exclusively to Independent Media on Wednesday afternoon, Shongwe weighed in on Chiefs’ progress this season and explained why he believes the team have taken a step forward.

“Chiefs are better,” Shongwe said.

“They haven’t been this good in the last two to three seasons. The players that are there are proving themselves. People keep saying they are not signing quality players – but who else are they going to sign?

“I think they beefed up well.”

Shongwe highlighted the area where he believes the Amakhosi have shown the most improvement.

“The one clear thing that I can say has improved is their defence,” Shongwe said. “They are still making mistakes, but they have not conceded many goals this season.

“They’ve had more clean sheets at this stage compared to last season. The goals conceded are far fewer.”

Shongwe is correct. Brandon Petersen has been rock solid this season, keeping 11 clean sheets and conceding just 11 goals across 18 matches in all competitions.

Petersen’s heroics have been praised by pundits and Amakhosi supporters alike, many of whom believe he deserved a Bafana Bafana call-up to the final Africa Cup of Nations squad for Morocco – at least ahead of third-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Goss.

Shongwe, however, sees it differently.

“I wouldn’t be worried if I were Petersen,” Shongwe said. “It’s a good thing to be on the sidelines sometimes and just observe from a distance.

“I know as an individual a call-up would have boosted his confidence – it would have been recognition for his hard work, true. But he doesn’t have to worry about that for now. His biggest slice of bread comes from Chiefs.”

While Shongwe has been impressed by Chiefs’ defensive displays, he believes the team still has room to improve in attack.

“It’s just maybe the scoring part where they have shortcomings. But even there, it’s much better,” he said.

“You’ve got to respect the fact that they are creating chances. Look, for instance, at the game over the weekend – they had no business drawing that match. But obviously the TS Galaxy goalkeeper, Ira Tape, got Player of the Match because of his saves.”