Kaizer Chiefs Co-Coaches Exit: Why Amakhosi Are Starting Another Coaching Search

Kaizer Chiefs have entered another decisive off-season after confirming the departure of co-head coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, ending a short but significant chapter in the club’s latest rebuilding cycle.

The decision, announced after the conclusion of the season, means Amakhosi are once again searching for a new head coach despite finishing third in the Betway Premiership, their best league finish in six years, and securing qualification for next season’s CAF Confederations Cup.

The club’s statement was direct: “With the season concluded, Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the departure of coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze following the end of their two-year contracts with the Club.” The announcement closes a campaign in which the pair steadied the team after Nasreddine Nabi’s exit and delivered measurable improvement, but not enough to convince the Naturena hierarchy to continue with the co-coaching model.

A Short-Term Solution That Became a Serious Test

Ben Youssef and Kaze were initially part of Nasreddine Nabi’s technical team before being handed responsibility for the senior side after Nabi’s departure. Their task was not simple: inherit a high-pressure dressing room, manage a demanding fanbase, navigate multiple competitions, and restore credibility to a club that has spent recent years trying to reclaim its old dominance.

According to the information provided, Ben Youssef joined Amakhosi at the start of the 2024/25 season, while Kaze arrived in October 2024. Both initially served as assistants to Nabi, who officially left the club in October 2025. After his exit, the duo stepped up to lead the senior team.

Their record was not insignificant. During the 2025/26 campaign, they led Chiefs in 39 matches across the Betway Premiership, CAF Confederation Cup, Carling Knockout Cup, and Nedbank Cup. The team recorded 19 wins, 11 draws, and 9 losses, while also reaching 54 points in the league — described in the provided information as the club’s second-best tally in the past eleven years.

The Results Improved, But the Standard Remained Ruthless

For many clubs, third place, continental qualification, and a stronger points return would form a compelling case for continuity. At Kaizer Chiefs, however, improvement is often judged against a harsher internal standard: trophies, authority, and long-term title contention.

That is the tension at the heart of this decision. Ben Youssef and Kaze delivered progress, but Amakhosi still ended the season without silverware. They also missed out on the knockout phase of the CAF Confederation Cup on goal difference after ending Group D with 10 points, a detail that underlines how close the season was to looking more impressive on paper.

The club thanked the outgoing coaches, stating: “We want to extend our gratitude to the coaches for their dedication and contribution, and wish them all the best in their future.” It also indicated that “More announcements will follow during the course of the next few weeks as we build up to the start of the new season.”

Why the Decision Is Dividing Opinion

The departure is likely to divide supporters because the co-coaches can reasonably be viewed from two angles.

From one perspective, they stabilized Chiefs after a disruptive coaching change and guided the club to its best league finish since the 2019/20 season. They also qualified for continental football and restored some competitiveness to a team that has struggled to consistently meet expectations.

From another perspective, Chiefs are still chasing the kind of commanding identity that separates title contenders from improved but unfinished teams. The club’s management may believe that a more experienced head coach is needed to turn progress into trophies, especially with continental football returning to the calendar.

That is why this is not simply a coaching exit story. It is a statement about the club’s ambition and the level of performance required to survive in one of the most scrutinized jobs in African football.

Kaizer Motaung Jr’s Comments Showed the Complexity

Before the final decision, Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr had acknowledged the improvement under the technical team. He said:

“Well, I think now, I mean, everyone can see the vast defensive shape that we’ve had right now and how we’ve had one of our best sort of goal differences in many years,” Motaung Jr told SuperSport TV as quoted in the supplied information.

He added:

“Everyone behind the scenes has worked very hard and the co-coaches themselves must take a lot of credit.

“The players must take a lot of credit. Our recruitment department must take a lot of credit because I think everything is definitely a culmination of work and planning.”

Those comments are important because they show that the decision was not made in a vacuum. Chiefs recognized the work done. The question was whether that work was enough to define the next phase.

Cedric Kaze Wanted the Discussion

Kaze himself had left the door open for a boardroom conversation about the future. Asked about whether he and Ben Youssef had done enough, he said:

“It’s up to the board, next week probably we will meet and to assess as well the season, as well as the coaches. There are things that we have to put on the table that we believe that would push the team forward,” he said.

He continued:

“It’s going to be a discussion between two parties that have lived together well and I’m pretty sure that you will get the information.”

That information has now arrived: the club is moving on.

The Pitso Mosimane Question

No Kaizer Chiefs coaching discussion is complete without the name Pitso Mosimane. The former Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly and Bafana Bafana coach has been mentioned by supporters and linked in speculation around the role. His name carries obvious weight: he is one of Africa’s most decorated modern coaches and a three-time CAF Champions League winner.

Whether Chiefs can secure him is another matter. Reports and commentary have pointed to his experience, tactical authority, and continental pedigree as reasons he would be an attractive candidate, while also noting that cost and ambition would be key factors.

If Chiefs do pursue a coach of Mosimane’s profile, it would signal that the club is not merely looking for a caretaker or transitional figure. It would suggest a desire for a strong personality capable of reshaping the squad, imposing a clear football identity, and competing immediately.

Other Names Will Enter the Conversation

The coaching market around Chiefs will now become a major talking point. Possible names raised in the broader discussion include Benni McCarthy, Eric Tinkler, Ernst Middendorp, and Rulani Mokwena, each representing a different type of appointment.

McCarthy would bring international playing pedigree, coaching experience in South Africa, time at Manchester United’s technical setup, and emotional appeal as someone long associated with admiration for Chiefs. Tinkler would represent tactical pragmatism and PSL familiarity. Middendorp would bring knowledge of the club and a previous near-title challenge. Mokwena would be an ambitious and high-profile option, though his current circumstances and past connections would complicate any move.

The central question is what Chiefs want most: star power, stability, tactical structure, continental experience, or a long-term developmental project.

A Bigger Squad Reshuffle May Be Coming

The coaching change may not be the only major development at Naturena. The supplied information indicates that Chiefs are expected to announce the departure of several players in the coming weeks as the club prepares for another squad reshuffle.

That matters because a new coach will likely want influence over recruitment, player retention, tactical balance, and pre-season planning. Chiefs cannot afford another fragmented rebuild in which the coaching appointment and player decisions move in different directions.

With the CAF Confederation Cup, Betway Premiership, domestic cups, and MTN8 commitments on the horizon, the next technical leader will need a squad deep enough to compete on multiple fronts.

What This Means for Amakhosi

The departure of Ben Youssef and Kaze tells supporters that Kaizer Chiefs are not satisfied with partial progress. Third place and continental qualification were meaningful achievements, but the club appears to be setting a higher bar for the next phase.

That ambition, however, brings risk. Constant coaching changes can disrupt tactical continuity, player confidence, and recruitment planning. Chiefs have to ensure that the next appointment is not just a big name, but the right fit for the club’s football structure, squad profile, and competitive demands.

The co-coaches leave with a respectable record and a clear contribution to the club’s improvement. Their exit now places pressure on management to make a better decision, not just a different one.

Conclusion: Progress Was Not Enough

Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze leave Kaizer Chiefs after guiding the club through a difficult transition and delivering its best league finish in six years. They improved results, helped secure CAF Confederation Cup qualification, and gave Amakhosi a stronger platform than the one they inherited.

Yet at Naturena, progress without silverware remains vulnerable. Chiefs have chosen a new direction, and the next appointment will reveal whether this is the start of a serious title-building project or another chapter in the club’s long search for stability.

The co-coaches have done their part. Now the responsibility shifts fully to the club’s leadership.