The month-long break from competitive football will give Kaizer Chiefs players enough time to do some self-introspection and find a way of playing together as a team to exert themselves as a fearsome unit.
But first, they will have to stop dropping more points when they face TS Galaxy this afternoon in their last Betway Premiership encounter of the 2025 calendar year at the Mbombela Stadium at 3.30pm.
The discord was evident when Chiefs drew 0-0 with Chippa United in Gqeberha midweek.
There is no doubt that Chiefs are playing a good brand of football and that they have assembled a very formidable squad, but the only aspect that is letting them down is that they are not forceful as a team and an entity.
Individually, they have brilliant players who struggle to step forward, show leadership, grab the bull by the horns and become match-winners.
As a result, they have fallen down the perking order and are far from reviving their glory days that gave them the Glamour Boys monicker.
Amakhosi, whose trophy cabinet that was once brimming with cups, shields, trophies, and medals, have only won a single trophy in the last 10 years.
After winning the Nedbank Cup last season, the celebrations were so wild that they exposed how desperate they have become to win something.
Against Galaxy today, they face a tricky outfit that can outfox any opposition on any given day. Their Bosnia-born coach Adnan Beganovic has assembled a brave and disciplined side that can add more woes onto Chiefs.
Galaxy will also want to cement their place in the Top8 bracket as they round off the year.
They have lost one match in their last four outings and produced a confident display to secure a 2–0 win over Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela last month.
Seluleko Mahlambi headed home the opening goal while Stellies’ Sanele Barns made it 2-0 with an own goal.
They then recorded a 1-0 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
After Sundowns, Galaxy defeated Golden Arrows 2-1 before they played to a goalless draw with Polokwane City last Saturday.
Against Chippa, Chiefs’ technical bench made seven changes to their starting line-up.
Bradley Cross was replaced with Paseka Mako at the back while George Matlou took Sibongiseni Mthethwa’s spot.
Gaston Sirino was replaced with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo while Dillan Solomons made way for Thabiso Monyane.
Mfundo “Obrigado” Vilakazi started ahead of Mdu Shabalala and Asanele Velebayi got the nod instead of Pule Mmodi and Flavio da Silva replaced Etiosa Ighodaro.
But still, they could not break down a vulnerable Chippa defence. In Afcon-bound Khulumani Ndamane, Galaxy will give Chiefs a stern test.
The likes of Mahlambi, Mpho Mvelase, Mlungisi Mbunjani, Junior Zindoga, and Mehdi Oumri will also want to start their Christmas break and celebrations early with Chiefs’ scalp.
