Can Kaizer Chiefs still be relegated?

Kaizer Chiefs suffered their third defeat in a row, after losing 1-0 to relegation threatened Richards Bay FC on Sunday. 

Chiefs have  failed to find the back of the net in their last three games with nothing going for them.

It looked like that wouldn’t be the case against Richards Bay, however, as Chiefs started brightly. They had two big chances through attackers Mduduzi Shabalala and Christian Saile. On both occasions, however, they both found the keeper instead of the net, with their curling efforts. When it mattered the most, it would be the hosts who scored the decisive goal through Simphiwe Mcineka.

For Richards Bay, it was a crucial three points, as they continue their struggle to stay in the topflight. For Chiefs, it was a very damage run which saw a team which was challenging for a CAF spot, now outside of the top eight positions in the league. Speaking to the KZN media after the game, Amakhosi interim coach Cavin Johnson could not hide his frustration.

Johnson frustrated with their performance vs Richards Bay

“Again, one of those games your opposition has one chance at goal. You have 85% ball possession, and we (Chiefs) are not able to win the game. Yes, we are very angry with ourselves but at the same time I thought we should have won the game in the first half,” said Johnson.

Can Chiefs still get relegated?

That loss to Richards Bay means that Chiefs are yet to secure mathematical safety from being relegated. They still need just one more point to secure their topflight status, however. Even that is a crazy statement to make, for a team that was eyeing CAF Champions League football at the turn of the year. Getting one point might seem like an easy task, but having failed to win in their last three, there can be no guarantees. 

They still have six more chances to do so, however. Chiefs should also take solace from the fact that their next opponents, in SuperSport United have not won in 2024.