Doctor Khumalo backs Kaizer Chiefs' Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef to finish the job

Doctor Khumalo has urged Kaizer Chiefs fans to rally behind joint coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef as they seek to bring back the glory days to Naturena.

Speaking on the periphery of Chiefs' announcement of their new partnership with Carling Black Label on Tuesday, the legendary former midfielder praised the two men for restoring some dignity to the famous gold and black jersey.

“They’ve got Chiefs to third or fourth on the log, whereas five or six years ago we were struggling to get into the top eight. That’s a helluva achievement. And they are topping their group in the (CAF) Confederation Cup,” Khumalo said.

Kaze and Khalil have been under fire from most quarters since they replaced coach Nasreddine Nabi in the hot seat, with many arguing that they are not ‘Chiefs material’. The club’s elimination from the Nedbank Cup they won last season has amplified that noise. But, having co-coached Amakhosi with Ace Khuse in the past, Khumalo knows only too well the challenges that go with the job.

“We might have co-coached, but we are talking of different generations. The game has evolved and they are facing a programme that no one wants to face. They don’t have time to fix things tactically because they only have two days in between games. And I am not making excuses for them

"But they’ve been given until the end of the season and that should be the only time we say ‘guys you tried but you failed us’. Until then, I believe at the moment they deserve the support from everyone who wants to see Chiefs winning games and doing well.”

Reflecting on his experience of co-coaching, Khumalo says the system worked for them because they were aligned in their thinking.

“It is more about understanding, believing and trusting because with me we make a collective decision. We focused on how we could take the brand to another level. What made it easy for Ace and I was that we’d played together at the club and Bafana Bafana. Also, we understood the culture and the brand of Chiefs.”

As Chiefs head to Cairo for their final round-robin phase match against Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup this weekend, Khumalo admits that his former club are in for a tough test but remains confident they will come back successful.

Amakhosi need only avoid defeat against the "White Knights" on Saturday to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the continent’s secondary club competition.

“I watched them (Zamalek) in the first leg in Polokwane. They are a very good team that is well organised with good players. It is going to be a difficult game for Chiefs away in Egypt. Remember Zamalek have won it before and they want to win it again," Khumalo said.

"And we know that the fans there don’t want any losses. But I’d like to believe that Chiefs will do well and here’s my message to the boys: For you guys to be where you are; you took yourself to that position and you need to maintain that.”