Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), believes that for South African football to truly flourish, Kaizer Chiefs must find success on the continental stage.
Last month, Motsepe expressed his excitement about the prospect of Kaizer Chiefs returning to continental competition next season, after showing signs of improvement. This past Saturday, Amakhosi officially secured a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup by clinching the Nedbank Cup title, defeating Orlando Pirates. Before the final, Chiefs just needed Pirates to secure second place in the Betway Premiership, which ultimately helped Amakhosi qualify.
“South African football needs a successful Kaizer Chiefs, and I’m proud of what the Motaung family has been doing,” Motsepe stated. “Dr. Kaizer Motaung is in a class of his own. I’ve always believed that the best days for Kaizer Chiefs are ahead of them, and I think they’ll be even more successful in the future.”
Motsepe went on to highlight the importance of consistent progress across the continent. “I’m proud of all the teams representing Africa,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see two South African teams in the CAF Champions League semifinals. Sustainable progress doesn’t happen overnight—it requires consistent investment and hard work.”
He also wished success to Al Ahly, Pyramids, Orlando Pirates, and Stellenbosch FC, who are all competing in CAF competitions, as well as Mamelodi Sundowns, a team he has great respect for.
Kaizer Chiefs have not participated in any CAF competition since 2021, when they were runners-up in the CAF Champions League. On Saturday, however, Amakhosi ended a 10-year trophy drought with their victory in the Nedbank Cup.
