Arthur Zwane, the coach of Kaizer Chiefs, is optimistic that his team can qualify for one of the CAF club competitions next season, as they have two .
Arthur Zwane, the coach of Kaizer Chiefs, is optimistic that his team can qualify for one of the CAF club competitions next season, as they have two ways to do so this season.
Chiefs are currently in fourth place in the DStv Premiership table with 41 points after 25 games, two points behind Orlando Pirates, who are in second place and hold the Champions League spot, and tied with SuperSport in third place.
Mamelodi Sundowns have already secured the other Champions League spot by winning the league title with seven games to spare.
However, Chiefs can qualify for Africa in two ways: by finishing third in the league or by winning the Nedbank Cup, both of which qualify them to play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Chiefs have advanced to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup and will face Pirates next month after defeating Royal AM 2-1 at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.
Zwane is determined to see Chiefs return to Africa after a two-year absence.
"Our goal is to play in the Champions League, to play in Africa," he said.
"This will help our players grow, particularly the younger ones, and that is our objective.
"We have an opportunity now, and we must go all the way to the final and push ourselves.
"We will be able to achieve two goals at once."
Zwane is no stranger to playing in Africa, having done so as both a player and a coach.
After Gavin Hunt was fired by Chiefs in the 2020/21 season, Zwane was named caretaker coach and led the team to the Champions League final, defeating Wydad Casablanca in both legs of the semi-finals in 2021/22, becoming the first South African side and coach to win in Morocco against the Moroccan giants.
However, Chiefs hired Stuart Baxter before the final, and he was unable to defeat Egyptian giants Al Ahly, who were coached by Pitso Mosimane.
As a player, Zwane was a member of Chiefs' team that won the Cup Winners' Cup, the predecessor to today's Confed Cup, in 2001 under Muhsin Ertugral before losing the CAF Super Cup final to Al Ahly later that year.
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