NEWS: Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson refuses to give up on CAF spot

Ten points now separate Chiefs from Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in third place, while second-placed Stellenbosch are 13 points better off, with just six games of their season left to play.

Next up for Johnson’s side is a home tie against SuperSport United this weekend followed by an even trickier test against runaway league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

But far from giving up, the Amakhosi boss insists that the club’s poor run of results has to end sometime – as long as they can find their scoring boots.

Johnson said: “I never say goodbye until the last game. 

“For us that [earning a CAF spot] isn’t out of our way and the players know that.

“It is a major pressure that we are under now but we have to break the pressure bubble somewhere.

“The tide has to turn for Kaizer Chiefs somewhere. We have to get better in front of goals because as far as ball possession is concerned and as far as playing the right players is concerned, I don’t think we are making mistakes.”

Reflecting on their recent loss, Johnson added: “Again, it was one of those games where your opposition has one chance and gets a goal whereas you have 85% ball possession [in fact they had 63%] and you are not able to win the game.

“We are very angry with ourselves. I think we should have won the game in the first half because we got into the box quite a few times and we lacked calmness.”