The recently concluded 2024/25 Betway Premiership season proved historic for Kaizer Chiefs, as they finally ended their decade-long trophy drought by clinching silverware and securing a coveted spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
With continental football on the horizon, Amakhosi are actively reinforcing their squad in the transfer market. In this in-depth analysis, FARPost examines the performance in each position and offers recommendations on which players should be released.
GOALKEEPERS
Last season, Kaizer Chiefs attempted to address their goalkeeping issues by signing Fiacre Ntwari from TS Galaxy, but the move didn’t yield the desired results. The team is in dire need of a first-choice goalkeeper who can command the position.
A top-tier shot-stopper is crucial to plug the leaks that plagued Amakhosi at the start of last season, where nearly every shot on target seemed to find the back of the net. Even on days when the defence limited opposition chances, the goalkeepers struggled to secure clean sheets, highlighting a critical deficiency.
In 23 outings, Bruce Bvuma kept eight clean sheets and conceded 23 goals, while former TS Galaxy star Fiacre Ntwari let in 11 goals in seven games. He only kept one clean sheet. Brandon Petersen featured in five games across all competitions and kept a clean sheet once. He was beaten five times.
The incoming goalkeeper must be technically sound and capable of starting build-up play from the back, a hallmark of coach Nasreddine Nabi’s previous teams. Chiefs often resorted to rushed forward passes with the current crop of keepers, even when tactical situations called for drawing out opponents to create space and break down defensive blocks.
Brandon Petersen – Keep
Fiacre Ntwari – Release [make space for a foreigner]
Takalani Mazhamba – [Keep as third choice]
Bontle Molefe – [Loan out]
Bruce Bvuma – [Release and replace with a goalkeeper who becomes number one]
FULL-BACKS
The former Young Africans mentor Nabi has made it clear that he desperately needs “specialist” full-backs. The team cannot afford to enter the new season with the current options at both left-back and right-back. Consistency and high-level output on both flanks, defensively and offensively, are non-negotiable for Nabi’s vision.
Reeve Frosler and Dillan Solomons are not viable first-choice right-backs for a team aiming for consistent results and dominance. While Frosler possesses the qualities to be a top player in the country, his lack of aggression and hunger for improvement limits both his own potential and the team’s ceiling. He appears content with the bare minimum, which is simply not enough for a club of Chiefs’ stature.
Solomons, on the other hand, exhibits fundamental weaknesses in his game that are unacceptable at this level. The team needs to acquire a right-back who is ready to elevate the team’s performance, offering solidity in both defence and attack.
The departure of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe has left a significant void at left-back. Chiefs need an immediate impact player who can hit the ground running, providing defensive stability and offensive prowess. The signing of former Orlando Pirates defender Bongani Sam proved a major misstep; he failed to make a single appearance and showed no qualities befitting a top club, often not even making the bench when natural left-backs were unavailable.
Attempts to play Happy Mashiane in this position also fell short. While he can deliver quality crosses, his overall contribution at left-back is insufficient. Consequently, the team finished last season without a natural left-back in the matchday squad.
Chiefs must prioritise bringing in an experienced left-back who is reliable and possesses the right mentality. While Kabelo Nkgwesa represents a promising long-term solution, he needs careful management to continue his growth rather than being thrust into a starting role immediately. Furthermore, Aden McCarthy is not suitable for the left-back position.
Nabi needs to deploy players where they can truly excel. A sound strategy would be a dual approach of acquiring two left-backs – an experienced player for immediate impact and another as a long-term investment.
Reeve Frosler – Keep
Dillan Solomons – Keep as third-choice right back
Happy Mashiane – Loan
Bongani Sam – Release
Edmilson Dove – Release
Bradley Cross – Keep as back-up at left centre-back
Kabelo Nkgwesa – Keep
CENTRE-BACKS
The Glamour Boys have plenty of options at left centre-back with the emergence of Bafana Bafana defender Aden McCarthy and the availability of Bradley Cross providing cover for Rushwin Dortley. However, Dortley’s absence significantly hampered the team’s progression on the left side, forcing Nabi to alter his system.
The reliance on a back three without Dortley limited Pule Mmodi’s offensive impact. Instead of pushing into the opposition box and exploiting his attacking strengths, Mmodi was often tasked with defensive duties, blunting his influence in crucial attacking phases.
The right centre-back position demands immediate attention. Chiefs need to acquire a high-quality player capable of benching Miguel Inacio, formerly with Petro de Luanda. This signing wouldn’t just improve the squad but also serve as a crucial motivator for current starters to elevate their game.
Inacio’s reckless tendencies often leave the team vulnerable, particularly due to suspensions, highlighting the urgent need for a reliable alternative.
The ideal centre-back acquisition must excel in aerial duels, win 1v1 situations, and demonstrate impeccable tactical discipline. A significant number of goals conceded last season stemmed from centre-backs being dragged wide and out of position, creating dangerous gaps that exposed the defence and led to disorganisation.
The team’s lack of defensive confidence was palpable, with much of the defensive work occurring in midfield. Once the midfield was bypassed, the cracks in the defence became alarmingly apparent, contributing to the team’s negative seven goal difference.
Given Msimango – Keep
Miguel Inacio – Keep
Rushwin Dortley – Keep
Aden McCarthy – Keep
Zitha Kwinika – Keep
HOLDING MIDFIELDERS
The most pressing need for Chiefs in midfield is a tactically astute defensive midfielder. This player must possess an innate understanding of space, capable of identifying and closing down critical areas when the defence is stretched. Their impact in such moments – whether covering fullbacks or centre-backs – needs to be clear and decisive, moving beyond aimless running during disorganised defensive transitions.
Chiefs require a true anchor in the number-six role; someone who can maintain the team’s on-ball principles even under intense pressure. This holding midfielder must be adept at playing through pressure, providing a consistent outlet and a foundation for build-up play.
A significant challenge last season was achieving the correct balance within the double pivot system. The ideal combination requires both exceptional ball-winning capabilities and strong ball-playing strengths. Chiefs frequently sacrificed one for the other, which ultimately hampered their ability to impose themselves once in possession. The team often prioritised out-of-possession hard work and ball recoveries over crucial aspects like ball control and effective game management.
While the current squad possesses players with the potential to elevate performances, the coaching staff must maximise these potential partnerships. Fostering a cohesive unit that can grow together is essential for the team’s forward momentum. Ultimately, Chiefs need to acquire a destroyer with the complementary qualities to play out from the back. This crucial addition would allow Thabo Cele to thrive in his preferred number eight role, further unlocking the team’s midfield potential.
Thabo Cele – Keep
Samkelo Zwane – Loan
Yusuf Maart – Keep
Edson Castillo – Release and free up the foreign spot
Sibongiseni Mthethwa – Keep
Njabulo Blom – Already gone
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
The team needs to acquire a high-profile number 10 to revitalise their midfield. This season, their current attacking midfielders have been instrumental in creating chances, consistently ranking among the top two in the league. This demonstrates their willingness to play forward passes and drive the attack. However, the team has struggled to control games against low blocks, a problem exacerbated by an imbalance in the defensive midfield.
Despite this, they’ve still managed to force balls into dangerous areas, increasing their presence around the opposition’s box.
While the attacking midfielders excel at creation, their significant weakness lies in scoring goals. This burdens the strikers immensely, and if they’re also misfiring, the team appears desperate and directionless. Without a consistent end product, offensive patterns lose their clarity and effectiveness.
The Soweto giants must invest in a number 10 who can reliably contribute at least 10 goals per season. While Mduduzi Shabalala’s expected goals [xG] will increase operating as a second striker, and he’ll likely improve with more playing time under Nabi, the team needs an immediate impact player. They require a midfielder capable of not only pushing the strikers but also carrying the team with goals from midfield.
A well-balanced midfield will significantly enhance other departments that rely on its functionality. This unit is the team’s engine room, and the club cannot compromise its quality. Furthermore, Amakhosi already possess enough controllers in their midfield; they need to deploy them correctly.
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo – Keep
Mduduzi Shabalala – Keep
Mfundo Vilakazi – Keep
Gaston Sirino – Keep
George Matlou – Release
Mduduzi Mdantsane – Release
WINGERS
The team’s goal contribution from wide areas was a significant weakness until Glody Makabi Lilepo’s arrival in late January. The Congolese attacker scored six goals, provided one assist in 15 games across all competitions, and was the club’s top scorer.
Chiefs desperately need to acquire wingers who are adept at creating chances and capable of scoring from wide channels. While Nabi’s wingers frequently penetrated the box, their lack of clinical finishing was a pervasive issue, with the wide players often at the heart of this problem.
Pule Mmodi, who scored four goals in the Nedbank Cup, sometimes demonstrated an ability to eliminate fullbacks and create excellent scoring opportunities for the team. However, his finishing was consistently poor, a concerning aspect that didn’t improve with increased game time. In his absence, the team appeared bereft of ideas on the flanks. Mmodi brought more than just attacking prowess; he exhibited a strong work ethic, diligently tracking back and providing crucial support to his full-backs.
Unfortunately, despite showing glimpses of promise, other wide players like Tebogo Potsane never reached a level of consistent performance that warranted their continued presence. Lilepo, with his goal-scoring contributions from the left, provides Nabi with a foundation to build upon. While he might not consistently influence games from that flank, he reliably adds goals.
When deployed on the right with an overlapping, capable fullback, he significantly enhances the attack, delivering better balls into the box. Chiefs also suffered from a distinct lack of quality in their crossing. Even with physically imposing strikers like Ranga Chivaviro or Tashreeq Morris as a number 9, the team failed to deliver decent balls into the box. There was no clear intent to play crosses suitable for the type of strikers they had.
There is room for the young Manqoba Ozoemena, who enjoyed a fantastic season with the league-winning DDC team. However, the team needs to inject more quality into their wide areas, specifically targeting players with significant goal contribution potential. Chiefs need goals, and to achieve this, they must sign a starting winger who can surpass Mmodi’s offensive output.
Glody Makabi Lilepo – Keep
Pule Mmodi – Keep
Manqoba Ozoemena – Keep
Nkosana Mbuthu – Loan
Tebogo Potsane – Release
STRIKERS
Chiefs must be aggressive in the transfer market to secure a quality striker. The club cannot afford to compromise on this crucial position, especially as they’ll be competing against some of Africa’s top teams.
The signing of Tashreeq Morris was a significant misstep, particularly when the team was crying out for goals. Morris’s strengths lay in areas where the team was already sufficient, and he lacked the “big team mentality” needed to inspire the squad during challenging periods. His frequent frustration was palpable, and his poor off-the-ball movement hindered the creative players behind him.
Ashley Du Preez also had an underwhelming season and failed to display the same hunger he showed upon his arrival. Du Preez, who scored two goals in 21 outings, needs to significantly improve his performance next season.
Wandile Duba proved to be a key player as a No. 9 and deserves more opportunities to lead the line due to his consistent delivery. He scored five goals in all competitions.
After a ninth-place finish, largely because of failing to convert their chances, Chiefs need to recognise that next season will be even tougher. The team requires a 15-goal striker to capitalise on the numerous chances they create. The club frequently creates scoring opportunities but consistently fails to convert them. A prolific goalscorer would propel the team significantly higher up the league table.
Wandile Duba – Keep
Ashley Du Preez – Keep
Naledi Hlongwane – Keep
Tashreeq Morris – Release
Ranga Chivaviro – Already gone
Grateful acknowledgement is made to izodlalaitv/X for their insights, which informed this article.
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