Why Chiefs' Mooted Invitation In AFL Could Ruffle Feathers

As CAF has not revealed the criteria they use to invite teams to the African Football League, the possible future inclusion of Kaizer Chiefs in an expanded 24-team tournament could raise eyebrows and further criticism.

There have been reports that Amakhosi and the Buccaneers were earmarked to participate in the AFL 24-team tournament, which was set to start this season but sponsorship challenges forced the organisers to limit it to just eight teams as a pilot project.

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For instance, SuperSport United (38) and Cape Town City (40) are currently ranked higher than Chiefs (57) in Africa by FootballDatabase.

Matsatsantsa have arguably done better than Amakhosi on the continent cumulatively over the last decade at least and other clubs in other countries could feel they also deserve spots based on their participation in CAF tournaments over the years.

SuperSport head coach Gavin Hunt has suggested that the AFL is for the elite clubs with money, and questioned the criteria used and believes that although Matsatsantsa could be deserving to be involved in a 24-team tournament based on merit, it's unlikely to happen.

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"I think it's bad for the game, it's a boys club, mates club, where you've got eight mates who own clubs, what's the qualifications of getting in there?" Hunt asked on the ThisIsFootball.Africa YouTube Channel.

"Sundowns, South Africa, no problem, so why are other big clubs in other countries not there? It's a boys club and 'Don't worry, next year we'll involve a few of our other mates and get them in'. I think it's totally wrong!

"Domestically, in Africa leagues need to get better, that means better fields, better organisation, but you can't run away and just have this group and give them all this money, so what's the criteria of getting in there? Is it over 10 years, 15 years? If it's over the last 10 years I think maybe SuperSport should be there but we'll never get invited into that, do you understand?" he questioned.

Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung was appointed as one of the vice Presidents in the newly-formed African Club Association (ACA) affiliated to CAF and it remains to be seen if that could be a factor on whether the club gets invited into the expanded AFL.