Following Kaizer Chiefs' emotional 2-1 victory over rivals Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final, defender Dillan Solomons has eyes on continental success.
The victory at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday not only ended a decade-long trophy drought for the Soweto giants but also secured their place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
For Solomons, the achievement marks a turning point – and a launchpad.
“It’s huge. It is big for us as a team,” said the 28-year-old fullback.
“It means we will play in Africa, which has been a goal since the start of the season. It is not the Champions League, but it’s still a platform to showcase our brand and hopefully go all the way.”
With Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Stellenbosch FC all making deep runs in CAF competitions this season, Solomons believes Chiefs now have a standard to match-and surpass.
The Nedbank Cup triumph was also a personal mission for the squad, who were eager to reward club chairman Kaizer Motaung for his continued faith in the team during a challenging rebuilding phase.
“We wanted it a little bit sooner, and this is a good moment for us. It’s been a long time since we put smiles on our supporters’ faces,” Solomons reflected.
“Our chairman has put a lot of trust in us and the technical team. What better way to thank him than by winning silverware? Hopefully, this is the beginning of something new.”
The victory may be symbolic, but the season isn’t over yet. Chiefs now turn their attention to the Betway Premiership, where a top-eight finish is the target.
With matches remaining against Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United, Solomons emphasised the need for consistency and commitment.
“It feels good and exciting. I think our character pulled us through. The hunger to end the 10-year drought was real. We wanted it more than Pirates,” he said.
Happy Monday Champs🏆#Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/FW6AXleV0j
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) May 12, 2025
