For years, Kaizer Chiefs have watched their biggest domestic rivals pull further ahead.
While Mamelodi Sundowns have established themselves as the dominant force in South African football and Orlando Pirates have rebuilt themselves into serious title contenders, Amakhosi have struggled to find the consistency expected of one of the country’s biggest clubs.
Chiefs’ recent trophy drought tells only part of the story. The club’s frequent coaching changes and inconsistent recruitment have also made it difficult to build a settled football identity.
The question is no longer whether Chiefs have the resources to compete.
It is whether the club is prepared to make the structural changes required to close the gap.
Here are five lessons Amakhosi can take from Sundowns and Pirates.
1. Recruit quality — not just big names
Chiefs need to become much more strategic in the transfer market.
Signing established players can help, but recruitment should be based on quality, age profile, tactical suitability and long-term value rather than reputation alone.
The club has previously been linked with players who later became important figures elsewhere.
Fiston Mayele is one example, while Fawaaz Basadien and Oswin Appollis are more recent cases involving players linked with Chiefs before eventually joining Sundowns and Pirates respectively.
Chiefs cannot afford to repeatedly watch their rivals identify and secure players who could have strengthened their own squad.
2. Give the coach time to build
Constantly changing coaches makes it extremely difficult to establish a sustainable football philosophy.
Chiefs have gone through numerous coaching changes over the past decade, and every new appointment has often meant another tactical approach, another recruitment strategy and another rebuilding process.
Sundowns’ success under long-term coaching structures demonstrates the value of continuity.
Pirates have also benefited from giving their football project time to develop.
Chiefs need a coach with a clear tactical identity — and, crucially, the backing and time to implement it.
3. Build a scouting network beyond the academy
Chiefs have historically been excellent at developing local talent, but modern football requires clubs to search far beyond their traditional recruitment areas.
The academy should remain central to the club’s identity, but it cannot be the only source of emerging talent.
Pirates have demonstrated the value of identifying players before they become household names. The rise of players such as Mbekezeli Mbokazi highlights what can happen when clubs invest in wider scouting networks.
Chiefs should be searching across South Africa, the rest of Africa and other emerging markets for players who fit their football model.
4. Get the football structure right
Recruitment and coaching problems are often symptoms of a deeper issue: football structures and decision-making.
Chiefs need clearly defined responsibilities throughout their football department.
The club also has a wealth of institutional knowledge through figures who have been involved with Amakhosi for many years.
The challenge is finding the right balance between experience, modern football expertise and clearly defined decision-making authority.
If Chiefs want sustainable success, football decisions must be guided by a coherent long-term strategy rather than short-term pressure.
5. Rebuild trust with the supporters
Chiefs supporters expect ambition.
That does not necessarily mean signing the most expensive player available. It means showing supporters that every decision is part of a serious plan to make the club competitive again.
The gap between Chiefs and their rivals has become increasingly frustrating for the Amakhosi faithful.
The solution is not simply to promise a return to the glory days. Chiefs need to demonstrate progress through better recruitment, stronger performances and a clear football identity.
The rebuild starts with consistency
Kaizer Chiefs remain one of Africa’s biggest football brands, but reputation alone cannot close the gap to Sundowns and Pirates.
The club needs better recruitment, wider scouting, coaching stability, stronger football structures and decisive leadership.
Most importantly, those changes need to form part of one long-term plan.
Sundowns have shown what sustained investment and strategic consistency can produce.
Pirates have shown that smart recruitment and squad building can restore competitiveness.
Now Chiefs must decide whether they are ready to follow the same path.
The question is no longer how big Kaizer Chiefs are. The question is whether Amakhosi are prepared to make the changes required to become successful again.
