Kaizer Chiefs are targeting the Carling Knockout Cup to end their decade-long trophy drought, goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has said.
Chiefs were picked to face a tough SuperSport United away in the tournament’s Last 16 during a draw in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The Carling Knockout, won by Stellenbosch FC last season, presents the first opportunity for Amakhosi’s new technical team led by coach Nasreddine Nabi to win a trophy early into their Chiefs tenure.
This after the Soweto giants missed out on the MTN8 title, which was successfully defended by their bitter rivals, Orlando Pirates, at the weekend.
Speaking to the media during the draw, Petersen said as players they feel confident the drought will be over soon.
While the results of the winds of change that blew across the Naturena village during pre-season are yet to be perceptible by touch, the shot-stopper said positive changes in Amakhosi’s setup were evident.
“For a team like Chiefs, there’s always ambition, and we always look at the bigger picture,” Petersen said.
“With the new technical team and all the changes that have been made at the club, you can see by the way we have been playing, that there’s a new energy and vibe on the field.
“It is something brought by the new technical team.
“In the past, we have struggled, we could see it on the field. We could hear it when we spoke as the players.
“I think that is something that’s slowly starting to change, even though they (the new technical team) have only been there for a short time.
“It’s starting to rub off and you could see in the first three games we have played; we are like a different team.”
Chiefs have played three Betway Premiership matches where they recorded back-to-back victories against Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu FC before narrowly losing to Mamelodi Sundowns.
“As I said, for me it’s slowly getting there and hopefully we can just keep improving game by game and week by week,” Petersen said.
Despite all the changes and coach Nabi pleading for more time to build a formidable Chiefs, the goalkeeper said supporters aren’t wrong for wanting a piece of silverware immediately.
“For me, it’s never too soon to start expecting trophies from a team like Chiefs because we should be winning trophies, season in, season out,” Petersen said.
“Yes, we have been on a trophy drought for too long. I think for us it’s time to change it, by not just saying it, but doing it.
“I think with the energy that is there now there’s real hope and we are very excited as players, management and the club, Kaizer Chiefs, to start with the Carling Knockout Cup.
“This is a stepping-stone for the rest of the season and the cups to come.”
The venues, kick-off times and dates are yet to be confirmed for the round of 16.
