Kaizer Chiefs coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef insist ‘we know what we are doing’ amid doubts they are good enough to replace Nasreddine Nabi

Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are the Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches after replacing Nasreddine Nabi, who recently left the club.

Their appointment has been met with mixed reactions amid optimism and doubts over their capabilities to help the Soweto giants win major trophies.

But Kaze has sent a message to those who do not have confidence in him and Ben Youssef.

"At least you know that we are starting in a little bit of a disadvantage - if my name was maybe Lopez or Marko, it would be a different story," said Kaze as per KickOff. 
"But I want to blame my parents for not giving me that name. I’m a happy African coach. I have been where I don’t think many African coaches have been.  
"We don’t take it personally because it is not directed at us, it is directed at everything that we represent.  But as well, we don’t want to prove anything because we are African coaches, but we want to honour the confidence that the club has placed in us, and we are going to work very hard," added the Burundian.
"And we will do everything, and we are very optimistic and very confident. About us, obviously, we are very proud to be leading a club like Kaizer Chiefs.  
"When you see the comments on social media, you think everyone here in South Africa is a coach because everyone has an opinion on who should play and who shouldn’t.  
"It is like a national team, but we know what we are doing. We are very optimistic for the team. The experience, we have it.  
"I have been a head coach at a big club like Yanga [Young Africans] and Khalil has been working for 16 years," concluded Kaze.  
"We know the tricks of every game and the mindset of every game.  With the support of everyone here, we know that we can achieve big things.”

With Nabi at the helm while Kaze and Ben Youssef were his assistants last season, Amakhosi ended a 10-year trophy drought by lifting the Nedbank Cup.

That precedent is likely to be used to determine whether the co-coaches can match their former superior.

Kaze and Ben Youssef have already led Chiefs to a Carling Knockout exit, and they are left with the Premier Soccer League title, CAF Confederation Cup and Nedbank Cup to compete for.

Amakhosi are currently fourth on the PSL standings and still with a chance to fight for the league title.

However, their recent form could paint them not as serious contenders to be crowned PSL champions, but they might want to use Wednesday's match against Siwelele FC as a confidence booster by winning.