Kaizer Chiefs News Today: Fans told results didn’t matter in pre-season, transfer updates & more

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Kaizer Chiefs News Today: Fans told results didn’t matter in pre-season, transfer updates & more

Latest Kaizer Chiefs news, in the last 24 hours, including Fernando Da Cruz’s main challenge, Aden McCarthy into the next phase of the UEFA Champions League, fans told why pre-season results shouldn’t worry them, and more.

Da Cruz’s biggest challenge explained

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral believes one of Fernando Da Cruz’s biggest tests in his first full season at the helm will be managing the expectations and mentality of the club’s players.

Da Cruz has officially taken charge of Amakhosi after a brief stint with the club in 2024 during Nasreddine Nabi’s tenure. 

The French coach has enjoyed a full pre-season with the Glamour Boys as he prepares the team for the 2026/27 campaign, with Chiefs aiming to challenge for domestic honours and make a strong impression in continental competitions.

According to Ertugral, success at Chiefs will depend not only on tactical ability but also on understanding the unique pressures that come with coaching in South Africa. 

“I’ve seen that they added a few, but not really big ones. You can never know what a team really needs until the coach has taken over. Look, no coach in the world has a magic stick,” Ertugral told iDiski Times.

“It doesn’t matter who that is. What is important is for a coach to quickly understand what it’s all about to work with South African players. It’s all about dealing with the expectations. His challenge will also be how much he can handle those stress-related issues when the crisis is coming up. 

Fernando Da Cruz, Image: Kaizer Chiefs
Fernando Da Cruz, Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“Is he going to help the team in the moment when things are not going very well? When things are good, everything is rosy. So the point is, when you have one draw and two losses in a row, the next one you need to win. 

“And your decision sometimes is how much you are in yourself to make healthy decisions. Let’s see how it goes. It’s Kaizer Chiefs,” he concluded.

McCarthy into the next round of Champions League

Aden McCarthy’s Sabah FK have qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions league after beating KuPS 2-0 away from home and 3-0 on aggregate. McCarthy, though, remained an unused substitute.

It was about style, not results

Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel has stated that during pre-season it was all about the style of play rather than the results.

The results didn’t sit well with Chiefs supporters as they felt that the team should’ve done better and also given them hope ahead of the season.

Miguel deeply explained that those pre-season games are mostly about the structure, understanding, and philosophy, not more about results.

“I understand and appreciate that our fans want us to win, but those games were more about preparation, so we were more focused on how we played than the results, our strategy and adapting to the ideas of our new coach,” Miguel said.

Inacio Miguel of Kaizer Chiefs vies for the ball against Rangers.
Inacio Miguel of Kaizer Chiefs vies for the ball against Rangers. Photo: Rangers

“The technical staff was happy with the progress we made, and now we want to go out and implement it when the season begins.”

Toyota Cup’s impact on Chiefs

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Daniel Matsau firmly believes the Toyota Cup will significantly boost the team’s confidence.

On Sunday in Rustenburg, Amakhosi were crowned Toyota Cup champions after a 1-0 victory over Scottland FC from Zimbabwe.

“It’s a strong start and a solid confidence booster for both the team and the new coach, Fernando Da Cruz,” Matsau told KickOff.

“I was thoroughly impressed with their play, although the final third remains an area to improve. Addressing this will be crucial. Since they’ve tightened their defense, I am certain they will perform excellently this season.

Kaizer Chiefs players celebrate 2026 Toyota Cup win.
Kaizer Chiefs players celebrate 2026 Toyota Cup win. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“Not conceding is vital—it allows for more strategic wins, often from set pieces like corners.

“We’ll give them time to develop, but even last season they started strong, earning 13 points in 5 games. Their defense looks particularly solid this season, which is great for motivation.”

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Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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