Unexpected but earned: Doc Khumalo assesses Kaizer Chiefs’ rise in Betway Premiership and CAF

Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has urged calm and perspective as Amakhosi continue to exceed expectations domestically and on the continent, warning against allowing encouraging standings to distort the reality of a team still in transition.

Chiefs currently sit third in the Betway Premiership with 30 points from 15 matches, firmly positioned behind Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, while also leading CAF Confederation Cup Group D with 10 points, placing qualification firmly within reach.

For Khumalo, those positions reflect progress — but not completion.

“Nobody expected them to be where they are but those are words that are uttered outside the Kaizer Chiefs family at Naturena,” Doctor expressed. 

The former midfield maestro believes Chiefs’ current standing should not distort the broader reality of where the team is in its development cycle.

“The focus from here on should not be to necessarily show us that Chiefs are the best team in the country because they are work in progress. They have to take everything step by step and not rush things,” he explained. 

Chiefs’ league position reflects a side that has learned to manage games better, while their continental campaign has shown an ability to absorb pressure in unfamiliar environments. 

Yet Khumalo insists credit must be given without inflating expectations beyond reason.

“For them to be where they are (is commendable) because it was unexpected but they should be given credit,” he said. 

Beyond results and standings, Khumalo believes Chiefs’ biggest achievement this season has been restoring belief within the squad.

Confidence, he argues, is built gradually — through performances rather than proclamations — and this campaign represents the laying of a sustainable foundation rather than a final destination.

That balance — recognition without overstatement — sits at the heart of Khumalo’s assessment. 

With rivals still capable of gaining momentum, Chiefs’ immediate challenge is not dominance, but consistency.

“What needs to happen now though is for the entire squad to understand that their immediate battle is maintaining their form and if not that then they have to leapfrog others into a better position.”

Khumalo also highlighted what he believes has been one of Chiefs’ smartest strategic decisions this season, not approaching the Betway Premiership and CAF competition in the same way.

What Chiefs have done well, he explained, is acknowledging that much of the squad lacks continental experience. 

Rather than forcing expectations, the technical team has framed the CAF Confederation Cup as part of a learning curve — a process of instilling belief rather than burden.

This approach, Khumalo noted, has helped players understand that their presence in Africa is not accidental. 

Chiefs are playing continental football because they earned it, and their top-of-the-group status is a product of their own work.

That philosophy becomes particularly important as Chiefs prepare for high-profile encounters against seasoned opposition, including Zamalek, a club steeped in continental history.

“They don’t have to put themselves under pressure when they play Zamalek,” Khumalo said. 

“They just have to go there and enjoy themselves.”

For Khumalo, enjoyment does not imply a lack of ambition. Instead, it speaks to freedom from fear — a mindset that allows growth without paralysis.

Chiefs’ season, still unfolding, is about learning how to compete consistently again. Where they currently stand is encouraging.

Where they finish will depend on whether patience, rather than panic, continues to guide the journey as they prepare for their trip to Egypt at the weekend.