Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye believes the Soweto giants were fortunate to escape a far heavier defeat after their 2-0 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday evening. The result ended Chiefs' impressive seven-match unbeaten run, and Khanye's analysis suggests the scoreline flattered the visitors considerably. Speaking on iDiski TV, Khanye claimed Celtic could have scored three or four goals in the opening half alone, with Chiefs offering little resistance during that period. He pointed to several underperforming players, noting that the team only began to function properly after falling behind to two goals.
Khanye particularly praised goalkeeper Brandon Petersen for his crucial role in keeping the defeat respectable. The former winger stated that without Petersen's exceptional shot-stopping ability and the defensive contributions of Lehlohonolo Seema, the final tally could have reached five goals. This assessment underscores just how dominant Celtic were throughout the encounter and how poorly Chiefs managed their defensive responsibilities during the match.
The criticism extends beyond the Celtic game to Chiefs' recent approach in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates. Khanye expressed disappointment at their conservative tactics, highlighting that the team deployed three defensive midfielders and created minimal attacking opportunities in that encounter. With attention now turning to a challenging away fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Chiefs will be desperate to return to winning ways and maintain their push for a top-three finish in the league standings.