Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze blasts critics and predicts end-of-season apology

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze says their critics, including coaches and pundits, will eat humble pie and apologise at the end of the season, insisting the club's technical staff are qualified and well supported.

Kaze and fellow co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef have been under scrutiny since they ascended to the helm following the sacking of their superior and head coach, Nasreddine Nabi.

Some naysayers feel the duo are out of their depth and not fully equipped to coach a club of Chiefs’ calibre, with their most notable success having come under Nabi’s leadership at clubs such as Tanzania’s Young Africans.

However, the pair have enjoyed an impressive run since taking over from Nabi. Following a 1–0 win over Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night, they have guided the team to third place in the Betway Premiership, as well as qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

Addressing the media after the win over Arrows, Kaze responded to questions about whether he feels they have earned the trust of everyone associated with the club.

“I don’t feel that I am not trusted. Instead, I feel very supported within the team — the management, the players, and all the colleagues around us,” Kaze said. “Sometimes, I feel it’s the 'outside people' who try to create things.”

The “outside people” Kaze referred to are not the club’s supporters, but rather certain coaches and members of the media.

“I would say there is also a lack of respect when talking about a position when there is already a coach in place, with some people saying, ‘I will make them champions,’ but when you look at the history of that coach, he has never done that before,” Kaze added.

“Sometimes journalists talk about ‘those two co-coaches’. It’s like they don’t even know the names."

Kaze stressed that the criticism is unwarranted, as he and Ben Youssef are qualified to coach Chiefs, and believes they will have the last laugh at the end of the season.

“We know what we are doing, and we are qualified,” Kaze continued.

“I am giving you until the end of the season. We’ll meet, and I am pretty sure everyone will apologise.”