Cedric Kaze expects emotional Kaizer Chiefs return with Sekhukhune United

Sekhukhune United coach Cedric Kaze says facing former club Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday will be an emotional occasion, but he is focused on ensuring his new side is ready for the challenge at FNB Stadium.

Kaze spent two years with Chiefs before leaving Amakhosi at the end of last season. He worked as co-coach alongside Khalil Ben Youssef, who has since taken charge of Durban City.

The encounter will be Kaze’s first meeting with Chiefs since his departure. The Burundian joined the Soweto club in 2024 as part of the coaching staff assembled by Nasreddine Nabi, who had been appointed head coach at the time.

Kaze is now in charge of Sekhukhune United and has made an impressive start to his tenure. His team have won both of their opening matches, beginning with their Betway Premiership opener before securing victory in their MTN8 quarterfinal.

That strong start has set up an intriguing meeting with Chiefs, although Kaze’s immediate priority is making sure his players recover from a physically demanding contest against AmaZulu.

The MTN8 quarterfinal required a significant effort from the Sekhukhune squad, with several players needing time to recover before the trip to face Kaze’s former club. Despite the emotional significance of the fixture, the coach said his attention had already turned to managing the team’s preparation.

“It’s an emotional one coming on Wednesday and we have to first recover well because I feel like this game took a lot of, took a toll on the physicality of the players,” said Kaze.

“But I’m pretty sure that on Wednesday we will be ready for the challenge.”

The match is scheduled to take place at FNB Stadium, with kick-off at 19:30.

Kaze’s return adds an extra layer of interest to a fixture involving two clubs competing for momentum early in the campaign. While his previous association with Chiefs means the occasion will carry personal significance, he will now be seeking another positive result for Sekhukhune United after winning his first two games in charge.

The coach’s comments also underline the physical demands of the opening fixtures, with Sekhukhune having to balance the excitement of their early success against the need to recover quickly from their MTN8 quarterfinal.

For Chiefs, Wednesday’s game will provide the opportunity to face a Sekhukhune side that has begun the season strongly under a coach familiar with the club’s environment. For Kaze, it will be a reunion with Amakhosi and a test of his new team’s ability to maintain its early momentum.

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