Phili makes immediate impact as Kaizer Chiefs start Betway Premiership unbeaten

Langelihle Phili says scoring against African champions Mamelodi Sundowns has been one of the standout moments of his early Kaizer Chiefs career after making an instant impression at the club.

The 21-year-old winger joined Amakhosi from Stellenbosch FC earlier this month, but has already played a key part in their unbeaten opening to the Betway Premiership season.

Phili was named Player of the Match following an excellent performance in Kaizer Chiefs’ victory over Sekhukhune United. He then produced another important contribution in the 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium.

The former Stellenbosch player opened the scoring by finishing from close range after good work by Siphesihle Ndlovu. Mamelodi Sundowns eventually equalised, leaving Kaizer Chiefs with a point, but the result kept them second in the league table.

Kaizer Chiefs have collected seven points from their first three matches, putting them level with defending champions Orlando Pirates.

For Phili, the start has delivered an early taste of the opportunity he expected when he moved to one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

“Obviously, being at such a great football institution as Kaizer Chiefs you want to play in the big games, so being able to play and score against Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions, was huge for me, as could be seen from my celebration,” he said.

Phili’s pace and direct style have already earned him the support of the Kaizer Chiefs faithful. He said that backing had helped him feel more comfortable in his new surroundings, although he remains determined not to allow the attention to affect his approach.

Rather than focusing on the praise surrounding his performances, the winger says his priority is to continue developing and contributing to the team.

“Still, my overriding aim is to help the team in any way possible,” he added.

“In order to maintain my form consistently I must just keep listening to the coach and the technical team, learning from my teammates and just keep trying hard every day to become a better version of myself.”

His early displays have also added to the optimism surrounding the young players in Da Cruz’s squad. Phili arrived at Kaizer Chiefs alongside fellow 21-year-old Faiz Abrahams, with the club aiming to build around emerging talents including Luke Baartman, Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala.

The contribution of those younger players has helped provide encouragement during Kaizer Chiefs’ strong start to the campaign. Phili’s goal against Mamelodi Sundowns, in particular, gave him an opportunity to make his mark in one of the biggest matches of the season so far.

The winger says winning over the club’s supporters has been as satisfying as his progress on the pitch.

“It’s the best feeling ever to be loved by supporters,” he said.

“When I arrived at the Club my priority was to earn the love of the fans. I’ll keep on trying to please them through maximum effort, which is something they appreciate.”