Kaizer Chiefs’ 7 strikers: Keep or sell?

As the season enters its homestretch, Kaizer Chiefs find themselves facing a defining period after a huge outlay on new strikers failed to pay off.

Before the start of the season, Chiefs added four new strikers, bringing in Flavio da Silva, Etiosa Ighodaro, Khanyisa Mayo and Luke Bartman to help offset the scoring burden from youngster Wandile Duba, Ashely Du Preez and Tashreeq Morris.

However, it has been a continuation of the same problems that let them down last season as all the strikers, apart from Silva, have disappointed with Chiefs still creating loads of chances but failing to convert, leading to their early cup exits as well as falling off from the PSL title race.

It leaves Chiefs with big decisions to make at the end of the season as they still need a clinical striker despite having seven on their books. So, what should happen to the centre-forwards at Naturena?

Flavio da Silva

Flavio Silva, Kaizer Chiefs — Image – Chiefs

The 29-year-old Guinea-Bissau international signed this season and has been the most impressive of the forwards at Naturena with seven goals in 22 games, making him the club’s top scorer. He is good on the ground and in the air, which offers Chiefs a different dynamic in attack.

Verdict: Keep

Etiosa Ighadaro

Etiosa Godspower Ighodaro during his Kaizer Chiefs unveiling. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

The Nigerian also joined Chiefs at the start of the season but has spent most of the time in the treatment room than on the pitch. The former Mamelodi Sundowns star has played just seven games and scored one goal but with his injury problems, Chiefs will be better off sending him out on loan.

Verdict: Loan

Wandile Duba

The Chiefs academy graduate has struggled for gametime this season with the increased competition, making 15 appearances. He has one goal, scored this month, having been the top scorer last season with five goals and three assists.

At 21, he still has time to develop if he gets the right coach and good strikers to learn from.

Verdict: Keep

Khanyisa Mayo

The striker joined Chiefs to much fanfare on a season-long loan from Algerian club CR Belouizdad but after scoring on his debut, the goals dried up and injuries kicked in.

Mayo has so far played just 12 games and with his only goal coming back in September, he has not done enough to make the move permanent.

Verdict: Release

Ashely Du Preez

Ashley du Preez, Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

The striker has been at Chiefs since 2022 but is yet to set the stage alight with just 19 goals and nine assists in 96 games. Du Preez has spent his time at Chiefs in and out of the team due to injuries and is yet to score in 12 games this season.

Verdict: Sell

Tashreeq Morris

Joined Chiefs from SuperSport United (now Siwelele FC) in January 2025 but has hardly played. He featured 11 times last season, without scoring, and is yet to play even one minute this term.

Verdict: Sell

Luke Baartman

The 19-year-old joined Chiefs late after a protracted court battle with Cape Town Spurs but it was not until December that he made his debut. He has made just five appearances, all of them from the bench, and is yet to score.

Still young, the pressure of playing for Chiefs could be too much at this point, added to the competition, and it would be wise to take him away from the spotlight to help his development.

Verdict: Loan

Conclusion

Etiosa Ighodaro, Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

With wingers and defenders outscoring all their strikers apart from one, Chiefs need to go back in the market for clinical forwards if they want to challenge for trophies next season and from their seven centre-forwards, only two deserve to be there in 2026-27.