Kaizer Chiefs are set to test their mettle against international opposition in July, with the Soweto giants scheduled to face Spanish La Liga side Elche CF and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Kholood Club in Spain.
Amakhosi are set to return to Europe for their pre-season training after camping in the Netherlands last year. The base camp in Europe in 2025 laid the groundwork for a season that saw them finish third in the Betway Premiership.
It was their best campaign since the 2019/20 term, when they ended the season as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns. Now under new coach Fernando da Cruz, Chiefs will be pushing to clinch the PSL title for the first time since 2015.
Da Cruz leads a new project and will be under immediate pressure to surpass what his predecessors, co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, achieved last season. Nasreddine Nabi raised the bar during the 2024/25 campaign when he guided the Soweto giants to the Nedbank Cup title, ending the club’s 10-year trophy drought.
The upcoming term will also see Amakhosi returning to continental football, after their third-place finish earned them a CAF Confederation Cup spot. The MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup and Nedbank Cup will also be up for challenge.
TWO SPAIN PRE-SEASON FIXTURES LINED UP FOR KAIZER CHIEFS
Two games have so far been confirmed for Chiefs in Spain, where they will play at the Pinatar Arena Football Centre. They will be up against Saudi side Al Kholood Club on July 15 before facing La Liga outfit Elche CF three days later.
Pinatar Arena is a renowned football destination for training camps and friendly matches. During this European summer, the football centre will host the likes of Villarreal, Real Murcia, Qatari side Al Rayyan SC, as well as English sides Preston North End, Cambridge United, Port Vale FC, Rochdale AFC and the youth teams of Sunderland, Bournemouth and West Ham United.
The likes of Manchester City FC, as well as Spanish sides Valencia and Real Betis, have previously used the Pinatar Centre, which was opened in 2013.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Amakhosi will also face Scottish giants Rangers on July 12 to kickstart their pre-season tour. They will conclude their preparations for the new term in Lesotho with a match against Lifofane FC at Setsoto Stadium on August 2.
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