Ben Youssef Praises Chiefs' Resilience After Drawing Against Sundowns

Khalil Ben Youssef, co-coach of Kaizer Chiefs, celebrated a gritty point at the home of Mamelodi Sundowns but expressed concern for an injured player, Mduduzi Shabalala. The Chiefs managed to hold Sundowns on their own turf, an accomplishment that very few teams achieved this season. Ben Youssef quickly credited his players for responding to every challenge during the match.

"I think it was a real battle tonight, a big fight for us," Ben Youssef said on SuperSport TV. He noted that despite external noise surrounding the game, his team treated every match like a cup final. In line with that mindset, Flavio Da Silva scored a well-deserved goal for Chiefs in the first half. Even though Brayan Leon equalized in the second half for Sundowns, the Chiefs managed to maintain a strong defensive performance, earning a crucial point in Sundowns' title defense.

Unfortunately, the match took a toll on Chiefs as Jayden Adams tackled Shabalala aggressively, resulting in the young midfielder's injury. Ben Youssef confirmed that the prognosis was not positive. "You saw the injury; sometimes we need protection for players," he said. "He will miss one or two months." The absence of Shabalala, a standout talent at Naturena, poses a significant challenge for the team with the end of the season approaching.

Despite this setback, Ben Youssef praised his players for their collective effort, highlighting individuals who made a substantial impact during the match. "I prefer to speak about the whole team: Ndlovu, Maboe, Monyane, Msimango, Aden – I think all of them showed good character today," he said. He also recognized Shabalala's significant contributions prior to his injury.

Lebohang Maboe made an emotional return to Loftus Versfeld, starting as the holding midfielder after leaving Sundowns, and showcased his skill throughout the match. Ben Youssef addressed the decision to substitute Siphesihle Ndlovu late in the game, clarifying that it was to avoid a second yellow card. "We don’t want to lose him; we introduced Ox [Mthethwa] to provide more balance," he explained.

With three games remaining against Sekhukhune, AmaZulu, and Chippa United, Ben Youssef emphasized that the season is far from over. "Both teams deserved a point from this, but we have three more games, and we need to continue fighting for these points," he added. He reiterated that the team's progress is evident in their results and overall performance, as they aim for a trophy or a spot in the CAF Champions League.