Maboe urges Kaizer Chiefs to stay close to Pirates and Sundowns

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe says his side must keep pace with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns before continental football increases the pressure on the leading clubs later in the season.

Kaizer Chiefs are third in the Betway Premiership after four matches, having collected eight points. They are two points behind both second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns and early leaders Orlando Pirates.

Although the gap at the top remains narrow, Maboe believes Amakhosi must make the most of their opportunities now. Building a strong points total in the opening part of the campaign could prove important when the league schedule becomes more demanding.

“It’s very important to collect points now because come January next year, they’ll be continental football to juggle so that means it’s important to collect as many points as we can now and keep up with the top two teams.

“It’s important that we win our games and that starts with Siwelele on Sunday.”

Kaizer Chiefs will host Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, with the match offering them the chance to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

The fixture also gives the Glamour Boys an opportunity to apply pressure to the two teams above them rather than allow either Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns to establish a significant advantage.

Maboe’s warning comes with the early standings tightly packed. Chiefs remain within touching distance of the leaders, but the midfielder recognises that dropped points now could make it more difficult to challenge for the title once the demands of continental competition are added to the calendar.

For the Chiefs player, Sunday’s meeting with Siwelele is therefore an important next step in maintaining contact with the early pace-setters.

Maboe is also adapting to the tactical instructions of manager Fernando Da Cruz. While he has continued to operate in his usual position, the midfielder says he has been asked to interpret the role differently within the coach’s approach.

“Not much has changed because I’m still playing my position but obviously in a different way because the coach wants us to play in a different way so now it’s about seeing the pictures on the field and see where I need to position myself to be able to exploit our opponents.”

The midfielder’s comments underline the balance Kaizer Chiefs are trying to strike: continuing their unbeaten run while developing under Da Cruz and collecting enough points to remain alongside the teams at the top of the Betway Premiership.

For now, the focus is on Siwelele and the chance to turn a promising opening into a sustained challenge. Maboe believes securing victories in the present will help ensure that Chiefs remain close to Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns when the season becomes more congested.