Photo Courtesy Kaizer Chiefs Media.
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has revealed a cautious approach when they take on ABC Motsepe League side Free Agents in Round 32 of the Nedbank Cup at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Amakhosi drew the Tshwane-based team, which competes in South Africa's second division, under the SAFA banner, two weeks ago at the bank’s head offices in Sandton. With head coach Nasreddine Nabi set to miss the game due to suspension, Youssef will take charge.
“For us as coaches, when you play a Cup game, you have to be careful when you play a team in the lower division. Like I said, we have to prepare mentally; it’s a very difficult game, it’s a cup game. It’s not like when you play a big team against a big team, the players prepare themselves already because they know they have to perform, and they have to do well,” Youssef said as quoted by FARPost.
“As Africans, we have problems when we play against teams in the lower division; we always think we’ll win the game before we play, and for that, we’ve discussed it a lot with them [players], we prepared them that this is going to be one of the most difficult games this season. We know what we have to do.”
On how long it will take for Chiefs to start winning trophies, Youssef said: “To be honest with you, what we’ve discussed about the project at Kaizer Chiefs is to beat the other team. [And] then next year or in two or three years, it’s to fight for the league.
“We have to come back. When I was young, I remember I used to see Kaizer Chiefs in the African Cup [CAF competitions] in the finals or semifinals; it was one of the best teams in Africa.
“So, we want to come back to Africa [play in CAF competitions]. If you want to come back to Africa, you have two choices: you have to finish in the top three or win this cup. As a big team, we know [that in] every competition you play, you play to win the competition.
“If you play in the league, you play to win the league. Every cup you have to play to win, we don’t know what they prepared for us, but we will do our best.”
Historically, Amakhosi have dominated this tournament, clinching the title a record 13 times since its inception in the early 1970s
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