Kaizer Chiefs’ young talent Naledi Hlongwane has shared the club’s targets for the new season, revealing that the Soweto giants are gunning for a top-three finish in the league.
Hlongwane’s remarks come on the back of Chiefs finishing ninth on the Betway Premiership table in the previous season.
The Glamour Boys had an underwhelming season in the league last year, failing to finish in the top half of the log and qualify for the 2025 MTN8.
Chiefs appointed Nasreddine Nabi as the head coach in July 2024, aiming to reclaim their glory days and compete for top honours. In Nabi’s first season at Chiefs, they won eight matches, drew eight, and suffered 12 defeats in 28 league games.
Meanwhile, the Tunisian tactician ended Chiefs’ 10-year trophy drought after winning the Nedbank Cup. Amakhosi lifted the trophy after defeating rivals Orlando Pirates in the final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in May.
In a bid to build on their Nedbank Cup success, Chiefs went on a pre-season tour to the Netherlands to prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.
WHAT NALEDI HLONGWANE SAID ABOUT CHIEFS’ AMBITIONS
The Naturena-based outfit travelled with one of their youngsters, Hlongwane, who was key in the club’s reserve side winning the DStv Diski Challenge title.
The talented forward has revealed that they want to change their fortunes and finish within the top three next season.
“We want to go all out this season. It’s a new opportunity to do well in the league, the cups, and the [CAF] Confederation Cup. Ask all the players, we really want to challenge for a top-three position,” Hlongwane said on the Chiefs website.
Another Chiefs rising star, Thulani Mabaso, opened up on the conversation with the club’s key midfielder Thabo Cele ahead of highly-anticipated season.
“I was talking to Thabo Cele, and he explained to me, the pre-season games are over. Now we need to win,” Mabaso said.
“The mentality must be different. We all want to win, because if we win, we make our people happy – the family, the fans. I feel we are ready. We want to bring back the glory days of Kaizer Chiefs.”
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