Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has declared that securing a return to the CAF Confederation Cup was the bare minimum for a club of Amakhosi’s stature, following a convincing 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. The result locked in third place in the Betway Premiership and guaranteed continental football next season, a remarkable turnaround for a side that failed to finish inside the top eight last campaign. Ben Youssef, speaking after the match, acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with coaching one of the biggest names in African football and expressed relief that the squad had delivered on its primary objective with two matches still to play.
The Tunisian mentor credited a dramatic shift in mentality and defensive stability for the club’s resurgence, noting that younger players and fringe squad members had stepped up consistently during the second half of the season. He emphasised that the improvement was not limited to the starting eleven, praising the resilience of the team and the readiness of players who had been called upon from the bench. “I think a lot of times we said that the minimum that we can do this season is to be in the top three, to play again in the CAF Confederation Cup,” Ben Youssef said. “For one of the biggest teams in South Africa and in Africa, it’s the minimum that we can do.”
Ben Youssef was quick to spread the praise beyond the pitch, acknowledging the contributions of the entire technical staff, including the fitness coach, analyst, and medical team. He described the collective behind-the-scenes effort as crucial to the team’s improved performance, drawing a military analogy to underline the discipline required from every squad member. “Every time I said to them, ‘You are like a military, so you have to be ready in the game,’” he explained. While celebrating the achievement, Ben Youssef made it clear that for a club of Kaizer Chiefs’