Kaizer Chiefs Assistant Acknowledges They Suffered Despite Win Over Stellenbosch
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has admitted that the team faced challenges. They also got a bit lucky in their 2-0 victory against Stellenbosch FC in the Betway Premiership on Sunday.
The match took a decisive turn early on when Stellenbosch’s Sivive Mkwali was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to ten men. Chiefs quickly capitalised on the advantage. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo delivered a well-placed free kick to open the scoring.
Stellenbosch Threat Despite Numerical Disadvantage
Despite being a man down, Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch side pushed hard. They troubled Chiefs and hit the goalframe twice during the opening half. Their spirited effort kept the match competitive despite the numerical disadvantage.
Chiefs Seize Victory with Late Penalty
After the interval, Chiefs regained composure and created several strong chances. They missed a couple of clear opportunities. Glody Lilepo confidently converted a penalty deep into stoppage time to secure the win.
Ben Youssef Reflects on the Struggles
Reflecting on the game, Ben Youssef told SuperSport TV, “We struggled somewhat in the first half. We scored, and then there was the red card, and we were fortunate not to concede after that. But the players showed resilience, and I’m pleased for the supporters.”
The assistant coach also extended his thoughts to head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who missed the fixture. He was in Tunisia attending to his wife following a serious car accident that left her in ICU. “We are keeping the coach in our prayers,” Ben Youssef added.
Room for Improvement with New Signings
Chiefs improved their game management in the second half. Wandile Duba and Lilepo both squandered chances from close range. Notably, only one new signing, right back Thabiso Monyane, featured in the starting lineup. Midfielder Ethan Chislett, left back Nkanyiso Shinga, and striker Flavio Silva were not included in the matchday squad.
Ben Youssef remains optimistic about integrating new players into the team. He said, “Step by step, we will see more of the new signings, and I believe this season will be better for us.”
Stellenbosch Coach Admits Team’s Mistakes
On the other side, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker admitted his team didn’t make things easier for themselves. “We spoke to the players about how red cards and penalties can complicate things. Unfortunately, we gave away both,” he said.
Barker praised his team’s reaction to going down to ten men. He highlighted their strong first-half performance and near misses. “We were the better team early on and had our chances with posts and good saves. However, credit to Chiefs for taking advantage after the red card. It was a double blow to lose a player and concede so soon after.”
The result sees Chiefs start their campaign with a hard-fought win. Clearly, Ben Youssef acknowledges there is still work to be done.
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