Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Mandla Masango has pointed out what he believes has been a key difference in the side’s current squad to the ones before.
Amakhosi have enjoyed one of their most successful seasons since 2020, finishing third in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign with 54 points.
It was also in the same season where they lost a head coach who helped them break a decade long trophy drought early in the campaign. Through the leadership of former co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef they reached the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Their third-place finish means they get to return to the inter-club tournament next term while they will also compete in the opening MTN8 tournament on the domestic front for the first time in three seasons.
The side has also seen their players receive national team-calls with defender Bradley Cross currently in Mexico with Bafana Bafana ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s pre-season tournament, the Toyota Cup where Chiefs will play against Scottland FC of Zimbabwe, Masango pointed out at time the players spent together as a big factor to their success.
“I think it’s the will power of the players,” said the 36-year-old.
“As well as the amount of time they spent together because building a team is a process. It’s not a one season or like short term period.
“You need a longer period of time. I think they’ve been playing together for quite some time so that’s why they‘ve been able to get those combinations.”
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