Since their first participation in the Top 8 tournament in 1972, Kaizer Chiefs have won the competition 15 times and will now go in search of a 16^th crown, when they host Golden Arrows in the quarterfinals at the FNB Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Start 

Chiefs’ first game in the Top 8 competition, when it was then known as the BP Top8, saw them win their 1972 quarterfinal Real Morning Stars, 3-0, with Aerial ‘Pro’ Kgongoane scoring their first goal. They would ultimately reach the final, losing out to Orlando Pirates.

Amakhosi won their first title in 1973, defeating Pimville United Brothers in a two-legged final, emerging victorious in both legs,3-2 and 3-0 respectively. Historically, Chiefs have won back-to-back titles in 1981 and 1982, as well as 1991 and 1992.

PSL era Titles 

Since 1996/97, Chiefs have managed to win the MTN8 four times, with their first title coming in 2001/02 by defeating Sundowns on penalties, a feat they repeated in 2008/09. The Club’s two other titles came viawith wins over SuperSport United, in 2006/07 (in which they overcame Gladen Arrows in the quarterfinals).

Amakhosi’s last title came in 2014/15, thanks to a 1-0 win over Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Chiefs’ last appearance in the final came in 2015/16, when they lost to Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs).

French Connection

Chiefs French coach, Fernando Da Cruz, will be looking to emulate his compatriot, Phillipe Troussier, by guiding Chiefs to a Top 8 title. Troussier led Chiefs to a 3-2 win over Sundowns in the 1994 BP Top8 final during his first season at the helm, an achievement no Amakhosi coach has managed since.