Outspoken former winger Junior Khanye has never been one to hold back when it comes to his views on South African football, and once again, he has done so, sharing his thoughts on Kaizer Chiefs’ recent pre-season performances.
In his assessment of the club’s preparations for the 2025/26 season, Khanye has expressed disappointment in Amakhosi’s pre-season form, squad changes, and their continued absence from a key competition like the MTN8.
Read – Chiefs Passed, Pirates Gained: Coach Lali On Kwayiba’s Football Journey
Khanye, known for his passionate commentary and unapologetic honesty, believes Chiefs’ pre-season campaign has done little to inspire confidence among supporters.
“Based on what I’ve seen, I’m disappointed in how pre-season has gone for Kaizer Chiefs. Yes, results aren’t very important during pre-season, but you still have to win some to give people hope,” he said.
Chiefs are believed to have played five friendlies in the Netherlands during their build-up to the new season, winning only one and losing the rest – a record Khanye says is worrying even if the matches were not competitive.
“I’m not saying they should have won all the games, it’s pre-season after all, but comparing them to Pirates, I’m really disappointed. Pirates played four friendlies, won one, drew two and lost one. That’s a much better showing in my opinion.”
Chiefs were also defeated by Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last Saturday.
Khanye also highlighted Orlando Pirates’ squad continuity as a key advantage heading into the new campaign.
While Chiefs have undergone another round of changes, Pirates have mostly stuck to their core.
“What I think is going to work for Pirates, as opposed to Chiefs, is that they didn’t change much. If you look at it, they lost only [Mohau] Nkota when it comes to regular players. That kind of stability matters.”
While Chiefs have made several new signings, Khanye remains unconvinced that the additions will raise the club’s level significantly.
“So far, I haven’t been convinced with the players that Chiefs have signed, and only time will tell about them,” he added.
A long-time admirer of Sipho Mbule, Khanye lamented what he sees as a missed opportunity for Chiefs to bring in the former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, whom he believes could have transformed the team’s fortunes.
“I still maintain, had Chiefs signed Sipho Mbule, he would make a big difference. Obviously, he can’t do it alone, and they’d still need to add two or three other players of that quality, but Mbule would’ve been a great step in the right direction.”
Chiefs’ failure to qualify for the MTN8 for a second successive season also did not escape Khanye’s criticism.
Read: Coach Opens Up On Life-Changing Moment For New PSL Star
He stressed that a club of Chiefs’ size and history should not be on the outside looking in during such competitions.
“As we speak, the top teams in the league are playing this weekend in the MTN8, and Chiefs aren’t. That’s uncalled for, for a brand like Kaizer Chiefs,” concluded the popular analyst.
