Kaizer Chiefs is holding its first training match against Rangers in Spain while maintaining a relatively small squad. The era of the club's new coach, Fernando da Cruz, shows noticeable parallels with that of his predecessor, Nasreddin Nabi, particularly regarding pre-season preparation, which could potentially turn into a double-edged sword for the team.
The team is currently in Spain, where Da Cruz is overseeing the refinement of preparations. The French specialist returned to the club after previously participating in the pre-season tour of Turkey in 2024 when Nabi led the team. Despite Da Cruz's promises to restore the former glory of Amakhosi, the club's transfer activity has remained restrained, limited to signing defender Thabo Mlolosane from Stellenbosch and goalkeeper Renaldo Linner from Sekhukhune United.
These two new players are with the team in Spain to ensure their quick integration into the system. Notably, adding only two players, combined with the departure of several existing members, including Aden McCarthy, could play to Da Cruz's strengths. Upon arrival, the tactician emphasized a preference for working with a smaller squad to allow for detailed, individual attention to every player and department.
Thus, current team members may view this as an opportunity to impress the new head coach. Although Chiefs did not meet expectations last season in the Betway Premiership, they achieved some success by demonstrating the second-best defensive statistics in the league, trailing only champions and rivals Orlando Pirates, having conceded only 18 goals in 30 matches.
Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is expected to retain the captaincy next season, and the arrival of Linner will add healthy competition to the goalkeeping group. Furthermore, McCarthy's departure is unlikely to destabilize the defense, as Mlolosane is expected to easily fill a spot in the defensive rotation. Both new players, Linner and Mlolosane, possess impressive track records; besides good form at the club, they are international players for the Bafana Bafana B team and have contributed to the national team's recent resurgence.
However, a solid defense is not enough to build a championship-contending team. Chiefs urgently need to improve their attacking play to ensure goal-scoring in all upcoming tournaments. The lack of new faces in the attacking line raises serious concerns among Amakhosi fans. Last season, Flavio Silva was the main source of goals, scoring eight goals and providing one assist, but he cannot carry the entire goal burden alone.
The team requires a competitive supporting cast to maintain high training standards and deliver results in matches. The inability to solve the problem of insufficient squad depth will undoubtedly weaken the attacking power and reduce the chances of victory. Injury history also exacerbates this issue: Ethos Igodaro was unable to perform last season due to long-term health problems, highlighting the need to strengthen the attack.
The club has been actively in contact with Langelile Phili from Stellenbosch, but his potential joining might trigger the departure of Ashley Du Prez, who is rumored to be considering a return to Winelands. Ultimately, Chiefs' decision to sign only Mlolosane and Linner is a risky move that could go either way. Da Cruz needs to meticulously plan the work with existing resources, as extracting maximum value from the current squad is the only path to success next season.
