CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has explicitly stated the critical importance of a successful Kaizer Chiefs for the development of South African football, offering high praise for the club and the Motaung family.
Motsepe recently highlighted his satisfaction with Kaizer Chiefs’ imminent return to CAF inter-club competitions.
Amakhosi have all but secured their place in the CAF Confederation Cup by reaching the Nedbank Cup final, where they will face Orlando Pirates in a derby showdown in Durban on May 10th. Orlando Pirates’ likely second-place league finish ensures their continental qualification via the Nedbank Cup.
This marks Kaizer Chiefs’ first appearance in continental club football since their impressive run to the 2020/21 CAF Champions League final, a season where they also progressed beyond the group stage for the first time before losing to Al Ahly.
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Speaking at a partnership extension ceremony with African Global Logistics (AGL) in Sandton, Motsepe, while discussing the advancement of African club football, specifically acknowledged Kaizer Chiefs’ impending return to continental competition.
Their Nedbank Cup final appearance offers a direct route to the Confederation Cup with a victory, or potentially as finalists depending on league outcomes.
“As I was walking in, Lucas was talking to me, we were talking about many things but I said I’m happy Kaizer Chiefs is back in the Confederation Cup because if you grew up the way I grew up, you cannot develop South African football without a successful Kaizer Chiefs,” Motsepe said.
He also noted the importance of other clubs, stating, “Let me quickly say without a successful Golden Arrows, AmaZulu and all the others, so they feel… I have a duty recognise all of them.
But I’m so proud, and proud of the work the Motaung family is doing and I say the same thing about Mbabane Swallows, Chiefs in Botswana and all the countries where we need to develop club football.”
As Al Ahly, Wydad AC, Esperance, and Mamelodi Sundowns prepare for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, Motsepe emphasized the necessity of corporate and sponsorship investment to strengthen local clubs and, consequently, national teams to compete globally.
“We will be going to America in a few months with the best clubs in the world, the very best, I was in Miami for a few weeks and I was told when you have Brazil play it’s beautiful but when you have Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. and all the others in the same team it’s something to be proud of,” Motsepe stated.
“We want the best of Africa – to be competing, the best of African football to be competing with the best of world football, we’re confident… part of our objectives is an Africa nation winning the World Cup, that is the aim, we recognise it needs investment and commitment.
“Where we have countries where heads of state support and loves football, those are the countries that usually succeed enormously.”