Motaung Jr details Chiefs’ CAF ‘logistical silver lining’

Kaizer Chiefs sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Jr, has met the club’s challenging CAF Confederation Cup group stage draw not with trepidation, but with a surprising eagerness for redemption and historical revision.

Far from seeing the draw as a curse, the Amakhosi chief views the challenging opponents as a perfect test and a crucial “logistical silver lining” for the club’s continental campaign.

The draw, which took place in Johannesburg on Monday, slotted the Soweto giants into Group D, alongside two-time winners Zamalek SC and fellow Egyptian side Al Masry, completing the quartet with Zambia’s ZESCO United.

Motaung Jr. believes the fixture list, which includes an opportunity for revenge against two historical tormentors, is the ideal setup for Chiefs to create new history.

The Egyptian Double Trip: A Planning Advantage

While drawing two Egyptian powerhouses is daunting for any Southern African side, Motaung Jr. sees a clear operational advantage.

“I think it’s very exciting. Apart from the opposition, the things you look at are logistics and the environment. We’re very fortunate with that draw in terms of two trips to a top country [Egypt].”

He elaborated on how facing both Zamalek and Al Masry will simplify the necessary travel and planning: “I think it’s two clubs from the same country. It kind of helps us plan our routes and logistics.” This clustering of fixtures reduces the complexity and expense of navigating the vast African continent, allowing the team to focus resources and energy on performance rather than perennial travel headaches.

Revenge on the Menu: Zamalek and ZESCO

For the former Amakhosi striker, the group stage draw offers distinct chances to settle old scores and break historical jinxes.

Motaung Jr. singled out the clash against Zamalek as an opportunity for direct payback.

“I mean, we have a little bit of revenge with Zamalek… The last time we played them was 1993. I think that time the club lost on away goals. So nice bit of history. A massive institution, Zamalek in itself… So, we’re very privileged,” he explained.

While the 1993 memory is potent, the more recent sting is the 2021 CAF Champions League final defeat to Zamalek’s bitter rivals, Al Ahly, making the chance to defeat a major Egyptian institution all the more symbolic for the 2021 finalists.

The third opponent, ZESCO United, presents a different kind of historical mountain for Chiefs to climb.

“I think also ZESCO, of course, we have a bit of history with ZESCO, too. I mean, the last time we played ZESCO, they beat us, I think it was 5-2, and we’ve never beaten a Zambian team,” Motaung Jr. admitted candidly.

This particular statistic is one the club is eager to rewrite. Coupled with the desire to overcome the Zambian jinx, the fixture’s “shorter flight” distance to Ndola makes it logistically appealing, reinforcing the sporting director’s overall welcoming stance on the draw.

History is Waiting to be Created

Having qualified for the group stage after an aggregate 3-1 victory over AS Simba, the Soweto giants are now set to begin their continental test on the weekend of November 21.

Motaung Jr. summarised the club’s philosophy towards the daunting group: “I think the way it’s set up, it’s a little bit of history that we can create, also a shorter flight, so I think in terms of logistics and planning, I think we welcome it.”

For Kaizer Chiefs, this isn’t just a tough group; it’s a meticulously planned opportunity to prove their continental ambition, armed with the goal of not just reaching the knockout stages, but of finally overcoming the historical hurdles that have previously defined their journey through African club football.