Kaizer Chiefs News Today: Why not use him as No.10? Defender explains withdrawal from NT, depth questioned & more

The latest Kaizer Chiefs news in the last 24 hours, including questions over Fernando Da Cruz’s tactics, why the star defender withdrew from the national team, concerns about the club’s depth, and more.

Why was he not used as a No. 10?

Junior Khanye has questioned Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz’s use of Mfundo Vilakazi in the Betway Premiership goalless draw with Golden Arrows, saying the number 10 role would have been more suitable.

Vilakazi, 20, started in the match, his sixth league match of the season. He was in attack with Luke Baartman, Pule Mmodi and Faiz Abrahams. The draw with Abafana bes’thende was a third for Amakhosi in a row and put them in fourth position on the log with 13 points.

“Why didn’t he use Mfundo as a number 10 instead of using him on a free role like running everywhere?”

Junior Khanye has questioned Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz’s usage of Mfundo Vilakazi in the Betway Premiership goalless draw with Golden Arrows, saying the number 10… pic.twitter.com/mEylgTJVlO

— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) September 23, 2026

Khanye feels that Vilakazi shouldn’t have been given a free role considering that the club did not have an outright striker in the game, and they might have gotten something from the game had he played as number 10.

“Why didn’t he use Mfundo as a number 10 instead of using him in a free role like running everywhere?” Khanye said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

“You just tell him when we don’t have the ball, just stay with Kubheka, and when we do have the ball, you need to find someone. You can see the coach’s instruction was to play with crosses. When they go wide, Abrahams was told to cross, and he’s a typical winger, and that’s his strength: the technique to cross.

“He puts the ball there irrespective of what’s happening, but who is crossing to because Baartman is out of position. You want him to come and stay with Kubheka; sometimes he’s late, and he doesn’t have the instinct of a striker. But to sacrifice him and play with a false number 9…  If you make Mfundo number 10, you were definitely going to get something from the game.

“Mfundo doesn’t join in the box; he’s always outside the box. And then you’ve got [Mbongiseni] Mthethwa and [Lebohang] Maboe, who are outside the box as well, guarding. So it’s difficult to see how the Kaizer Chiefs coach wants to play,” he concluded.

Ex-Chiefs defender explains withdrawal from national team

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has rebuffed claims of arrogance after opting out of Botswana’s AFCON qualifiers against Libya and Tunisia due to injury.

The Zebras captain has come under fire back home for skipping the continental assignment, sparking wide-ranging debate ahead of the Group H qualifying matches.

➡️ Ditlhokwe Explains National Team Withdrawal 👀

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has rebuffed claims of arrogance after opting out of Botswana's AFCON qualifiers against Libya and Tunisia due to injury.

MORE: https://t.co/rYigIaGZcp pic.twitter.com/qRudKNo9h6

— Soccer Laduma (@Soccer_Laduma) September 23, 2026

In a letter that has gone viral on social media, the ex-Chiefs centre-back stressed his decision was not out of disrespect or arrogance, but rather to manage an injury.

“I would like to inform the Botswana Football Association, my teammates and the nation that I will not be available for the upcoming Zebras national team call-up due to circumstances surrounding an injury that I am currently managing,” he said.

“Although I have played for my club, Al Wehdat SC, while managing the same injury, I requested to be excused from the upcoming national team camp so that I could use the FIFA international window to focus on my recovery.

“I sincerely apologise if my decision has been perceived as arrogance, disrespect or a lack of commitment to the national team. That was never my intention,” he said.

“This was not an easy decision, especially as captain of the Zebras, because representing Botswana is something I carry with immense pride,” he concluded.

Depth to work against Chiefs?

An ex-Chiefs coach has warned that Amakhosi might lack the squad depth to compete in both the PSL and CAF Confederation Cup this season.

Amakhosi, who are already hit by injuries, are competing both in domestic football and in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. Their former coach and midfielder, Sergio Dos Santos, believes the squad they have is too thin in quality to make a serious challenge in both competitions.

“If you look at the Chiefs team, they are struggling at the moment in South African soccer,” Dos Santos told KickOff.

https://t.co/DEcjt3oP9F

— KickOff Online (@KickOffMagazine) September 23, 2026

“So, if they are going to struggle in the PSL, how on earth are they going to win the CAF Confederations Cup?

“African teams might not know how to plan for them, but still, playing in Africa is never easy. It’s always very tough out there. Based on the performances we’ve seen from Chiefs so far, it leaves us with the question of [whether] Chiefs are strong enough to perform in Africa.

“They are struggling in the league; they are not doing well enough, so we are back to where we started before. Like before, something is lacking in the Kaizer Chiefs team. I just don’t know what it is. At one stage, we thought there were too many young players.

“But certainly, with the team they have at the moment, they don’t look like they are going to challenge. So, if they struggle to make inroads in South Africa, in the PSL, then surely it will be difficult away from home.

“If you look at Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, they have enough players to compete both in the domestic league and the Champions League. They can afford to rest three to four players before a big game.

“If you look at the Chiefs squad, they don’t have enough strength; they seem vulnerable, and therefore, it is very difficult for them to change too much,” he concluded.