The era of Kaizer Chiefs’ new coach, Fernando da Cruz, shares striking similarities with the tenure of his predecessor, Nasreddine Nabi, particularly regarding pre-season preparations – a parallel that could prove to be a double-edged sword for the team.
Chiefs are currently in Spain fine-tuning their preparations under the watchful eye of Da Cruz. The Frenchman is making his return to the club, having previously been part of the pre-season tour in Turkey back in 2024 when Nabi took over the reins.
While Da Cruz has promised to restore the glory days for Amakhosi, the club’s transfer activity has been quiet, only bolstering the squad with the signings of defender Thabo Moloisane from Stellenbosch and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner from Sekhukhune United.
The duo are currently with the squad in Spain to ensure they integrate seamlessly into the setup. Interestingly, the addition of only two players – coupled with the departure of several personnel, including one of last season’s club mainstays Aden McCarthy – might actually play to Da Cruz’s strengths.
Upon his arrival, the tactician made it clear that he prefers working with a smaller squad to ensure he can give detailed, individual attention to every player and department. Consequently, the existing squad members can view this as a fresh start to impress the new head coach.
While Chiefs fell short of expectations in the Betway Premiership last season, they did manage to get a few things right. Notably, they boasted the second-best defensive record in the league – behind only champions and rivals Orlando Pirates – conceding a mere 18 goals in 30 matches.
Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is expected to retain his captaincy next season, while the arrival of Leaner will add healthy competition to the goalkeeping department. Furthermore, McCarthy’s departure is unlikely to destabilize the backline, as Moloisane is expected to comfortably slot into the defensive rotation.
Both Leaner and Moloisane arrive with stellar pedigrees; beyond their impressive club form, both are Bafana Bafana internationals who have contributed to the national team’s recent resurgence.
However, a solid defense alone does not make a championship-contending team. Chiefs desperately need to sharpen their attack to ensure they are clinical in front of goal across all competitions next season.
The lack of new faces in the striking department remains a major concern for the Amakhosi faithful. Last season, Flavio Silva was the primary source of goals, netting eight times and providing one assist. But he cannot carry the goalscoring burden alone.
He needs a competitive supporting cast to drive high standards in training and deliver results on matchdays. Failing to address this lack of depth will undoubtedly blunt their attack and hurt their chances of winning games.
Chiefs’ frontline was also severely depleted by injuries last term, with Etiosa Ighodaro failing to make his mark due to a long-term setback. This history of injuries underscores why beefing up the attack is non-negotiable.
The club has been heavily linked with Stellenbosch’s Langelihle Phili, though his potential arrival could trigger the departure of Ashley Du Preez, who is rumored to be eyeing a return to the Winelands.
Ultimately, Chiefs’ decision to sign only Moloisane and Leaner is a gamble that could easily swing either way. Da Cruz must plan meticulously with the resources currently at his disposal, as extracting the absolute maximum from his current crop of players is his only path to success next season.
