Kaizer Chiefs continue to stay relevant despite a stop-start campaign

Not pretty, but effective.

Aiden McCarthy’s scrappy finish proved decisive as Kaizer Chiefs claimed what could yet rank among their most important wins of the season. The 1–0 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows delivered their first triumph of the calendar year and quietly extended a run that is beginning to feel increasingly meaningful.

There has been nothing polished about Chiefs’ campaign. Performances have fluctuated, momentum has stalled, and doubt has hovered throughout. Yet amid the scrutiny surrounding figures such as Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, Amakhosi have found a way to stay relevant. 

This is no longer a side clinging to hope — they are now actively chasing Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

And as long as they continue to scrape narrow wins and navigate unconvincing draws, they will remain part of the title conversation. They may lack the ruthless efficiency associated with genuine favourites, but results — rather than style — are keeping them in the hunt, even if the wider belief remains sceptical.

Third on the table and just two points behind defending champions Sundowns, with both sides having played 14 matches, Chiefs find themselves uncomfortably close to a side widely regarded as the best in the country. That proximity alone is significant.

It speaks to tangible progress, but more importantly, to potential. If they can stabilise their performances, they have the tools to disrupt the league’s established hierarchy — particularly with a clash against an in-form Pirates this season still to come.

Pirates’ upcoming high-stakes meeting with Sundowns could further shift the landscape. Whatever the outcome, Chiefs are well positioned to benefit, heading into the Soweto derby with the opportunity to close the gap on whoever drops points — turning that fixture into one carrying genuine title and top-three implications.

With 27 points already secured, Amakhosi are just five shy of the 32 they managed across the entirety of last season, and they still have 14 league matches remaining. This remains an unstable, unfinished side — fragile at times and inconsistent — but the direction of travel is unmistakable.

Nothing, however, has been settled. Sekhukhune United remain firmly in the picture despite stumbling at a crucial juncture. Their latest setback came via Tshegofatso Mabasa’s sucker punch, a defeat to a struggling Stellenbosch FC outfit that marked their third loss of the campaign.

That result has reopened the race for Caf Confederation Cup qualification, with Chiefs now having the upperhand with their two-point advantage putting them on pole position to qualify for continental football for a second consecutive season.

The league title may still be a stretch, but a top-three finish is no longer an unrealistic ambition. Securing it for a second straight year would not only underline progress but could elevate the Glamour Boys from hopeful outsiders to serious contenders next season — particularly as their squad continues to gain exposure to the demands of continental competition.

Attention now turns to the Confed Cup, where the Soweto giants travel to face Zesco United this weekend. Still winless in their opening two continental fixtures, the importance of carrying renewed domestic confidence into that clash cannot be overstated.

The football may still lack fluidity, but results are doing the heavy lifting — and what is unfolding could be an unexpected yet fruitful season for the Glamour Boys.