Why missing out on the top eight again will be ‘disastrous’ for Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs right back Dillon Solomons says it will be ‘disastrous’ if Amakhosi do not make it into next season’s MTN8. 

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Chiefs head into their final Betway Premiership game of the season on Saturday at home to Polokwane City knowing only a victory is likely to be enough for them to get into the top eight in the table. 

Chiefs’ poor run

Nasreddine Nabi’s side are on a run of eight consecutive Premiership games without a victory. Chiefs have won the Nedbank Cup, their first trophy in ten years. And they will play in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup. But Solomons says a top eight finish is still hugely important

“We had goals for this season and haven’t reached them in the league, so for us that is already a downer,” said Solomons on Wednesday at the Chiefs Village. 

“Winning the Nedbank Cup was fantastic, it is something we have been striving for a long time. But … we want to be in every competitions next season. Our goal was to get into the top eight, to get into Caf (competition) and to get into the top eight. 

“Not getting into the top eight will be disastrous for us.”

Since beating Magesi FC 1-0 at home in the Premiership on March 4, Chiefs have taken down the league’s top three in the Nedbank Cup. Amakhosi won away at Stellenbosch in the quarterfinals, and then beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals and Orlando Pirates in the final to lift the trophy. 

In the Premiership, however, they have managed to pick up just four points out of a possible 24.

“I think it’s a mentality thing,” said Solomons.

“Playing in cup games and league games is totally different. In cup games we know we have to win (to stay in it). I think if we can take that mentality into league games it will get better for us. In the cup no one can compare to us, we have gone all out.” 

‘We know how important it is’

Chiefs must hope the pressure of having to win on Saturday brings the best out of them at FNB Stadium.

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“You can categorise it as one of the biggest games of the season, it is like a cup final,” added Solomons. 

“We know how important it is … we have to get the three available points.”