Inacio Miguel on Handling the Pressure of His Second Season as Kaizer Chiefs Captain

Kaizer Chiefs captain Inacio Miguel has opened up on how he is managing the demands that come with his second season leading the team.

The 29-year-old midfielder earned respect quickly in the dressing room, taking over the captain’s armband from Yusuf Maart. His leadership was a key factor in Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup success last season, which helped soften the blow of a disappointing league campaign.

Despite the positive start to the 2025/26 season with a solid away win against Stellenbosch, Miguel remains cautious about expectations. When asked about handling the pressure, he said, “Expectations are dangerous, you know. It can create a lot of things in your mind, so you have to live the moment, enjoy the moment.”

Miguel admitted he had many hopes upon arriving last season but soon realised football brings highs and lows. “Thanks to God we had good achievements last season but also had some bad moments. So, this season I think I will live game by game and do my best in every training every day.”

He emphasised focusing on each match rather than looking too far ahead. “I will try to focus on today and not what can happen next week. The big difference from last season to this season will be that we have to go game by game without a lot of expectations.”

Miguel added, “I’m not thinking of what we can achieve. I’m thinking of the next game and that way it will be easy for everybody.”

The Angolan-Portuguese midfielder will lead Chiefs again when they face Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Wednesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30.

Miguel’s grounded approach could prove vital in maintaining team focus as Chiefs look to improve on last season’s league performance.