Kaizer Chiefs’ unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership has not translated into the kind of points haul Amakhosi need to keep pace with the teams at the top.
A fourth draw in seven league matches has left Chiefs seven points behind the leaders, increasing the pressure on Fernando Da Cruz and his squad to find a way to turn promising performances into victories.
The latest setback came against Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium, where Chiefs dominated periods of the match but ultimately settled for a 0-0 draw.
For a club with title ambitions, the concern is not that the championship is already mathematically beyond reach. Rather, it is the growing gap at the top and the number of points Chiefs are leaving on the table.
Chiefs need wins, not just an unbeaten record
Three victories and four draws from seven matches have given Chiefs an unbeaten record, but the points dropped tell a different story.
Winning three of their first seven games means Amakhosi have taken nine points from a possible 21. Four draws have prevented them from building the momentum required to stay close to the league leaders.
That becomes particularly significant if Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates continue collecting wins.
Chiefs therefore face a simple challenge when the league resumes: start converting draws into victories.
Attack remains the major concern
One of the more encouraging aspects of Chiefs’ performances has been their defensive organisation.
However, that solidity has not been matched by enough cutting edge in attack.
Against Golden Arrows, Chiefs had opportunities to take the lead, including a penalty that Lebohang Maboe failed to convert. Mfundo Vilakazi also struck the crossbar as Amakhosi searched for a winner.
Those missed chances have become increasingly important because a team cannot afford to rely on clean sheets every week.
If Chiefs concede first, their lack of consistent attacking output makes recovering points considerably more difficult.
Leaner gives Da Cruz another decision
The injury to Brandon Petersen also created an opportunity for Renaldo Leaner.
The former Sekhukhune United goalkeeper made his Chiefs debut against Arrows and kept a clean sheet, giving Da Cruz another selection decision to consider when domestic football resumes.
Petersen had established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, but several costly errors had already attracted scrutiny before his injury.
Leaner now has the opportunity to put pressure on him for the position.
Competition between the goalkeepers could ultimately give Chiefs another route to improving their consistency.
Were the six signings enough?
Chiefs made six additions during the transfer window, raising expectations that the squad could mount a stronger challenge this season.
The early results, however, suggest that recruitment alone has not solved every problem.
The issue appears to be less about one particular player and more about the team’s ability to consistently execute in decisive moments.
Chiefs need to turn periods of dominance into goals, protect leads when they have them and find ways to win matches that are not going according to plan.
Those details can make the difference over a long league campaign.
Can Chiefs still challenge?
There is still a long way to go in the 2026/27 season, so it would be premature to declare the title race over.
But the margin for error is becoming smaller.
With Chiefs already seven points off the pace after seven matches, another sequence of draws would make the challenge increasingly difficult.
The upcoming international break gives Da Cruz valuable time to assess what is not working and prepare his team for the next phase of the campaign.
When league action resumes against Stellenbosch, Chiefs will need more than an unbeaten record.
They need wins.
Can Fernando Da Cruz find the formula to turn Kaizer Chiefs’ draws into victories and keep their title challenge alive?
