Amakhosi headed into the last game of the season knowing a victory would secure CAF Confederation Cup football for 2019, and did just that, earning a 2-1 win against Ajax Cape Town who now have to negotiate the promotion/relegation play-offs.
It was fiery affair at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Mabedi pleased to end off the campaign on a high.
“It wasn’t an easy game for us,” he said. “We knew we were playing against a good team with a good coach and we knew that they would fight for their lives. We prepared well, we expected a fight which is exactly what we faced, but we managed to get the three points we were looking for, which is what was most important for us.”
Despite acknowledging the tough season Chiefs endured, Mabedi feels third place was the least the club could have achieved in consolation for their poor showing, but feels a berth in continental competition will only bode well for the club and country.
“It was not an easy season for us – we know we should have at least earned one piece of silverware, and we knew the old thing we could have given back to supporters was to finish in a respected position,” he said.
“We couldn’t rely on other teams to do it for us – we had to do it by ourselves. So this is the only objective we had, and we had to make it known to the players that we had to go out there and do our best so that we could finish third and play in Africa.
“You learn a lot playing in Africa, it’s a good experience and it’s important for these young ones to learn, which will also help the national team, so we can improve.”