logo
'Kaizer Chiefs are ready to compete': Sundowns legend hypes Amakhosi

'Kaizer Chiefs are ready to compete': Sundowns legend hypes Amakhosi

Former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has been impressed with Kaizer Chiefs and tipped them as a team to watch this season.
Amakhosi spent three weeks in the Netherlands for their pre-season where they played several friendly matches with Dutch teams. In the five matches, Chiefs only won once but it was their performance that left fans uninspired.
On Saturday, Nasreddine Nabi's men went down 3-2 on penalties to Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup. Kekana though, feels Kaizer Chiefs were impressive during the match and were unlucky not to win this past weekend.
'I've seen a better Kaizer Chiefs. I've seen a team that wants to win football matches,' Kekana told Soccerzone .
'I've seen distances in the midfield. I've seen distances as a team in the structure. You can tell this is a team that wants to compete this season,' he added.
Amakhosi fans will have to wait until 10 August until their see their players in action for the first time this season. The MTN8 kicks off this weekend but for the second season running, the Glamour Boys will not be in the competition having finished outside the top 8.
With six new players signed, Kaizer Chiefs will look to start the season strongly when they face Stellebosch FC in their opening Betway Premiership encounter on 10 August.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stellenbosch's young guns hungry to turn the tables on Kaizer Chiefs, says Barker
Stellenbosch's young guns hungry to turn the tables on Kaizer Chiefs, says Barker

IOL News

timea minute ago

  • IOL News

Stellenbosch's young guns hungry to turn the tables on Kaizer Chiefs, says Barker

Langelihle Phili of Stellenbosch FC | BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Stellenbosch FC's MTN8 quarter-final hero Langelihle Phili may have to wait a little longer before he cracks a place in the starting line-up, according to coach Steve Barker. Phili is one of the most promising young attackers in the country, having played a considerable role in helping the SA U20 team to the Afcon title earlier this year. The 20-year-old showed his prowess in front of goal again last Sunday by coming off the bench to net the match-winning goal in extra-time to see off AmaZulu at the DHL Stadium. The youngster would no doubt have wanted to continue the momentum in the much-anticipated Betway Premiership opener against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday (kick-off 5.30pm). 'Everybody is knocking on the door,' Barker said, at the Premiership launch in Sandton on Tuesday. 'That's the nice part, especially young players. They are hungry to play, hungry to start. But he plays in the same position as Sanele Barns, who scored two goals on Sunday, so it doesn't make it easy.' Barker was, though, looking forward to Phili building on his positive start to the new season. 'It's nice when a player comes on and wins the game for you. Langelihle is a very exciting player. I am looking forward to him having a breakthrough season. 'I think scoring in the first game of the season will give him the real confidence and belief that he can reach the potential that he has.' Barker's attention is fully focused on turning the tables on Chiefs in the season opener after the Amakhosi held the upper hand over their Western Cape rivals last season. Nasreddine Nabi's Phefeni Glamour Boys achieved a hat-trick of victories over Stellies in all competitions and it still rankles with the veteran coach. 📸 𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: The 2025/2026 #BetwayPrem launch event at The Galleria — Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) August 5, 2025

Cardoso driven to defend Sundowns' historic championship run
Cardoso driven to defend Sundowns' historic championship run

IOL News

time31 minutes ago

  • IOL News

Cardoso driven to defend Sundowns' historic championship run

Miguel Cardoso is motivated to guide Mamelodi Sundowns to a ninth Betway Premiership title amid fierce competition. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The excitement of having led Mamelodi Sundowns to winning the inaugural Betway Premiership title still lingers with Miguel Cardoso, and the 53-year-old coach intends to use it as fuel for the upcoming campaign. Sundowns are looking to win the domestic championship a record-extending ninth time when they kickstart the season with a clash away to Chippa United on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). It is a tricky clash for the Brazilians, given that the Chilli Boys now have a former Sundowns tactician, Sinethemba Badela, as their coach. 'Being part of the Premiership and being one of the 16 coaches that lead teams in the PSL is a privilege,' the Portuguese told newshounds, during the season launch in Sandton, Johannesburg. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'Obviously, last year was a magnificent season for me as a head coach and having the chance to become a champion here at a club with the level of Mamelodi Sundowns. "That excitement still drives me and I will continue to try to give that to my players. I think we created a fantastic relationship; we have a wonderful energy inside the club.' He believes they have great support from the board, who have 'a strong commitment to the club's growth and that's exactly the starting point for the success that the club has achieved in recent history.' All that notwithstanding, Cardoso anticipates a challenging season ahead. Launch complete ✅️ The 2025/26 Betway Premiership is good to go 🔥🔥🔥 We will see you ka weekend #BetwayPrem — Betway ZA (@Betway_za) August 5, 2025 'That's exactly what we want to do for the next season. It will be a season obviously in which I hope to keep the good moments as much as possible. "For sure there will be days that will not be happy and those values that we developed are the ones that will make us keep the pace in the right way and in the right direction. We have strong challenges ahead but beautiful things that can appear in the season, so let's see how the players take their responsibilities.' The former Esperance coach cannot wait for the transfer window period to close. 'Let's hope the market finishes as quickly as possible so that then we know who we have and how we can be in the future.' He knows they are going to have to work very hard to retain their title, though. 'Obviously the competition is very tough. I've always said that the Betway Premiership is a very tough championship and despite the records that were broken by us last season, it has to do with the higher standards we set rather than the lower performance from our opponents. "We have a lot of respect for the work of coaches and players from every team. We know that we have big contenders ahead and only by being ourselves and being loyal to our values can we think about winning again. "So, by that commitment, we can win every time or lose as few points as possible so that we can compete for the championship.'

I'll keep the legacy, says Ouaddou as new coach embraces Orlando Pirates' project
I'll keep the legacy, says Ouaddou as new coach embraces Orlando Pirates' project

IOL News

time31 minutes ago

  • IOL News

I'll keep the legacy, says Ouaddou as new coach embraces Orlando Pirates' project

New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is ready to build on the legacy left by his predecessor, Jose Riveiro, as the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season kicks off. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Orlando Pirates will embark on a season where legacy meets ambition — a campaign poised on the edge of dreams and expectation. With the weight of hope and history pressing on their shoulders, the Buccaneers face a defining chapter as the 2025/26 Betway Premiership kicks off this weekend. The Buccaneers finished 13 points short of ending their 13-year title drought during the last campaign, once again falling behind a Mamelodi Sundowns team, who are now aiming for an unprecedented ninth straight league crown. Abdeslam Ouaddou will oversee his first league fixture as the Sea Robbers' coach on Saturday, with his side set to meet a well-organised Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium (5.30pm kick-off). Both clubs come into this encounter on a high, having secured wins in the MTN8, setting up a tough start to their respective campaigns. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ouaddou joins a Pirates team that has enjoyed significant success over the last three seasons under José Riveiro. While the league title is clearly the club's primary objective — especially after their off-season recruitment — the ex-Fulham centre-back is determined to maintain the team's momentum rather than overhaul what is already working. 'As a new coach, it's very important to keep the legacy,' Ouaddou said during the Betway Premiership season launch on Tuesday in Johannesburg. 'When you come to a club such as Pirates, which has been doing very well to build that legacy for the last three years, it would not be wise for me to come and try to change everything. 'I will keep the good things and try to bring my touch. We are expecting an exciting season and we want to please our fans. We had a good pre-season camp and the club made some new signings, with the scouting team doing a good job. 'I am a happy coach. We cannot hide — we are going to play our role in the upcoming season.' With their arsenal now fully assembled, Pirates' recruitment strategy will come under scrutiny starting this weekend, as the true test begins to see if it will be successful. Several new signings have come through their doors, with each addition aimed at strengthening positions where the team lacked depth in the previous campaign. While the MTN8 gave a sneak peek into what the new arrivals can contribute, the Buccaneers also saw the departure of key player Mohau Nkota, and the uncertainty around Relebohile Mofokeng's future continues ahead of the season opener. Notably, many of last season's regulars were absent during their 2-0 MTN8 quarter-final win over Polokwane City on Saturday. With a larger squad now at his disposal, Ouaddou suggested that further exits remain possible — though final decisions will include himself and the club's management. 'We have a very big squad,' he admitted. 'I do not decide alone. Pirates is an institution — I have the board and the management — but I came to Pirates to continue the work that has been done. If we have to reduce the squad, it will be done with management. 'The coach cannot come and do what he wants. There are bases and we have a philosophy. The club knows exactly what they want. 'A perfect squad for me would be 28 players. I think that could be interesting,' he concluded.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store