Following a season underscored by frustration and under-achievement, a coveted MTN8 berth hangs precariously in the balance at a time when Kaizer Chiefs play their final Premiership match.
On Saturday afternoon (3pm start), there will be massive pressure on Chiefs as they host Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium.
Their under-fire coach, Nasreddine Nabi, has acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead.
His team has a dismal record of just one win from their last 10 matches.
Currently languishing in ninth place, the Amakhosi are dangerously close to missing out on the top-eight competition for a second successive year.
A win against Polokwane will push them to sixth place at best if other results go their way.
“”If you look at the table, you will see that the situation will only be resolved in the last game of the season. But we’re going to do everything,” said the Tunisian Nabi.
“We are confident, and we are playing at home for the last game.”
Chiefs have eight wins in the league, marking this season as only the fourth in Premier Soccer League history (since 1996) where they have failed to achieve double figures in the W column.
They had nine victories in the 2018/19 season, eight in 2020/21, and nine last season.
The visiting Polokwane sit in seventh position on the league table, just two points ahead of Chiefs.
Both teams have faced their fair share of trials this season, making this match a high-stakes affair after a long and arduous journey.
Polokwane initially performed impressively and even threatened to climb into the top three.
They are in turmoil with a staggering 13-match winless streak, and their defeat to relegation-threatened Cape Town City last week exacerbated their woes.
Now, they too must grapple with the fear of failing to qualify for the MTN8, putting even more pressure on Saturday’s match.
Polokwane have proved to be a difficult opponent on their day, and their determination will be crucial in what promises to be an electric atmosphere at FNB Stadium.
The 27-year-old winger from DR Congo, Makabi Lilepo, is shaping up to be a likely hero for Chiefs.
He has seamlessly settled into his new role after joining from Valenciennes in France last January.
He is currently in top form, after scoring in the past three matches, including a sensational long-range strike in their latest encounter against Sekhukhune United.
In contrast, Polokwane’s struggles in front of goal have been stark, with their top scorer, Lebohang Nkaki, finding the back of the net only four times this season, three of which came from the penalty spot.
Their attacking problems have contributed significantly to their drop in standings, as they languish in the mid-table muddle.
The outcome will determine not only the fate of Kaizer Chiefs and their ambitions for the upcoming season but also the future trajectory of Polokwane, as they unravel the final chapter of this roller-coaster league season.
