Kaizer Chiefs Begin Pre-Season with Youth Boost Ahead of Netherlands Camp
Kaizer Chiefs officially kicked off their 2024/25 pre-season preparations on Friday, 20 June, reassembling at Naturena ahead of their scheduled European camp in the Netherlands. The squad is gearing up for a crucial campaign under new leadership and with a revamped squad expected to be finalised soon.
While some of the club’s key players—Bruce Bvuma, Aden McCarthy, Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba—remain on international duty with Bafana Bafana at the COSAFA Cup, they are expected to rejoin the team on 30 June before the tour to Holland begins.
In a major show of confidence in the club’s youth development system, five players from the Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team have reportedly been promoted to the senior squad and will travel to the Netherlands for pre-season training. These players include Nkosana Mbuthu, Thulani Mabaso, Manqoba Ozoemena, Naledi Hlongwane, and Kabelo Nkgwesa. According to a source familiar with the club’s talent pipeline, their promotions have already been finalised, with contracts sorted and visa applications underway.
“For now, all these five players have joined the first team and their visas for Holland will be applied for as they will apparently travel with the team because their promotion is believed to have been finalised and their contracts are also believed to have been already sorted,” the insider revealed.
A second insider involved with the logistics of the tour confirmed that the full squad list is expected to be announced by the end of the week. The delay is due to pending arrivals, with new signings believed to be joining the camp shortly.
“At the moment we can’t tell you the full squad as there are new arrivals who are believed to be arriving this week and that’s when the whole squad to travel to Holland will be announced,” the source said.
Kaizer Chiefs are also believed to be finalising deals for new signings, including the possible acquisitions of former Orlando Pirates duo Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane. The club has yet to confirm these moves, but further announcements are expected in the coming days.
The team is scheduled to be in the Netherlands from July 3 to 19 for an intensive pre-season programme, which will give head coach Nasreddine Nabi an opportunity to evaluate the squad and integrate both new and returning players.
The promotion of five promising youth players marks a significant moment for the club, reflecting a strategic shift toward investing in homegrown talent. While other PSL clubs lean on experience-heavy signings, Amakhosi are demonstrating faith in their development structures as they seek to balance youth with proven quality.
With the Nedbank Cup win still fresh in memory, Kaizer Chiefs appear to be building a dynamic squad aimed at reclaiming their status as a top contender in South African football. The European tour offers a vital chance to test combinations, assess depth, and prepare for a season where expectations will be high.
