Teko Modise believes Amakhosi hold the key to the Betway Premiership trophy. With massive fixtures against both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns looming, Kaizer Chiefs could disrupt the race and decide who walks away with the title. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise has identified Kaizer Chiefs as the potential “kingmakers” in one of the most tightly contested Betway Premiership title races in recent years.
Even though Pirates are currently at the top of the log with a two point lead, the Brazilians hold two games in hand , the margins are razor-thin heading into the final stretch. However, it is Chiefs — currently third and chasing CAF qualification — who may ultimately determine where the trophy lands.
Amakhosi are set to face both contenders in crucial fixtures, starting with the Soweto Derby against Pirates at the FNB Stadium on April 26, before travelling to Loftus Versfeld Stadium to take on Sundowns on May 6.
For Modise, those matches carry weight far beyond the usual stakes.
“I see it going to the penultimate match of the season. Kaizer Chiefs are in between anyone who has to lift the trophy, because they don’t need to be on form. They don’t need to play well to cause an upset; they just need to disrupt what is happening right now,” Modise said.
Chiefs’ recent resurgence — including a strong winning run prior to their latest draw — has re-established them as a competitive force. While they may trail Pirates by a significant margin on the table, their form and motivation make them dangerous opponents at a decisive stage of the campaign.
Speaking on the Carwash 2.0 Podcast, Modise pointed to the broader context of the title race, highlighting how even Sundowns’ dominant run has not created separation.
“You have Sundowns that have just won 10 games in a row, but still, they are only a point ahead (of Pirates). It just shows you how stiff the competition is. You might look at the fixtures and, with all due respect, you can say Pirates can do a double there, Sundowns can do a double there (both over Chiefs in the league).”
Instead, he believes the emotional and competitive intensity surrounding these fixtures could shift the balance.
“That on its own is an incentive. Players will be hyped up. Those are games footballers want to play. I think for the first time in a long time, we see Chiefs as an important fixture, from the feeling of how the fans feel, and from a title-deciding factor on both sides, for Pirates and Sundowns.”
With the race expected to go deep into the run-in, Modise does not see the final day as decisive — but rather these pivotal encounters involving Chiefs.
“It will be decided before the last day. I don’t see Pirates at Orbit (College FC) being the game they need to win for the title,” Modise added.
As the league edges toward its climax, Chiefs’ role may ultimately prove decisive — not as title contenders, but as the side capable of shaping the destiny of those who are.