Kaizer Chiefs’ assistant coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, has shared his thoughts on the upcoming Soweto Derby, explaining why he isn’t letting the rivalry with Orlando Pirates distract him—especially with the match still two weeks away.
As the assistant to head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who is currently serving a two-match suspension, Youssef has stepped up to take charge of the team for their upcoming games, including their next fixture against Sekhukhune United.
Youssef Steps Up as Chief’s Interim Coach Amid Nabi’s Suspension
With Nabi sidelined due to a red card he received in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Golden Arrows, Youssef will be leading Kaizer Chiefs through their next match and the Nedbank Cup game the following weekend.
Nabi will be back just in time to prepare the team for the crucial Orlando Pirates clash, but for now, Youssef’s focus remains on their immediate challenge.
“We are focused on Sekhukhune, not the derby right now,” Youssef explained to the media.
“We have to manage our game by game, and we are only thinking about the next match.
Once that’s done, we’ll look ahead to the Cup game, and only then will we discuss the derby.”
Managing the Present, Not the Future
Youssef emphasized that the team’s current focus is on handling the upcoming Sekhukhune match, as well as the following Cup game.
“We manage game by game, week by week,” he continued, stressing that the derby against Orlando Pirates—while important—isn’t something they’re losing sleep over just yet.
It’s clear that for Youssef, the immediate tasks take precedence over what lies ahead.
Amakhosi’s Mixed Results This Season
Under Nabi’s leadership, Kaizer Chiefs have had a mixed bag of results so far, with five wins from their first 13 matches.
While this shows slight improvement from last season, fans have high expectations given the significant investment the club has made in new players.
Despite the inconsistency, the biggest challenge for Kaizer Chiefs is likely to come on February 1 when they face off against Orlando Pirates in the highly anticipated Soweto Derby.
The Pressure of the Soweto Derby
Although Nabi has faced tough matches against Mamelodi Sundowns, including two losses, the fans have been forgiving, understanding the challenge of competing against one of South Africa’s top teams.
However, a loss to Orlando Pirates in the derby might not be met with the same level of patience, and the pressure will be on Kaizer Chiefs to deliver when the time comes.
Looking Ahead to the Derby
With the derby still a couple of weeks away, Youssef and the team are focused on taking one step at a time, handling the games that come before it.
When the time comes to face Pirates, the preparations will begin in earnest.
Until then, the priority remains securing positive results in the matches ahead.
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