Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove has challenged the current Amakhosi side to raise the bar in the upcoming 2026/27 season, following notable progress last term.
The Soweto giants finished third on the Betway Premiership table last season. That was a marked improvement for a side that had missed out on a top-eight spot in two successive campaigns. It was also the first time for Chiefs to claim a top-three position since the 2019/20 season, when they were runners-up to then-champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
They now return to the CAF Confederation Cup, where they reached the group stages last season. New coach Fernando da Cruz leads a new project at Naturena after succeeding co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
The Frenchman is tasked with guiding Amakhosi to the league crown for the first time since the 2014/15 season. They will have to dethrone reigning champions Orlando Pirates, who also ended Sundowns’ eight-year PSL dominance.
DOVE EMPHASISES CHIEFS SHOULD BUILD ON LAST SEASON
Speaking to FARPost, Dove reflected on how he felt they let the club down during his time at Chiefs. But he feels a foundation for success was set last season.
“I always said, but not on record, when I was there, I always felt that for a team of Chiefs’ calibre, that’s a team that fights for titles. I also once said this in one of the interviews when we couldn’t qualify for the top eight that we failed the club,” Dove told FARPost.
“Last season, things got a bit better. I know how hard the gents work at training because I have been in that environment. I know that at some point, it frustrates them. But if we are talking about Chiefs as a club, I think Chiefs is a club that always goes into competitions to win. I hope they can build on what they did in the last stretch of last season.
“It was pleasing to see the gents coming through because I know how hard they work for them to go into games. Sometimes they walk out frustrated because you couldn’t get the result. So, I think they did well in the last stretch of the season.
“Hopefully, they can build on that with the same mindset that they always go into seasons with to win trophies. I hope in the coming season they can lift silverware because the club deserves.”
KAIZER CHIEFS’ WORK BEHIND THE SCENES
In preparing for the new season, Chiefs have so far signed defender Thabo Moloisane from Stellenbosch FC. Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, previously with Sekhukhune United, has been signed as well. Da Cruz has released the likes of Happy Mashiane, Tashreeq Morris and George Matlou, while Aden McCarthy moved to Azerbaijani side Sabah FC.
As first reported by this publication, Thabo Cele, goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, Glody Lilepo and Ashley du Preez face an uncertain future at Naturena. They were left out of the squad that travelled for the pre-season camp in Spain.
“I’m 100 per cent sure that every Chiefs supporter who comments on [social media] pages [does so] because they want to see their team succeed. Some comment with frustration because of the long wait for them to lift the league trophy or other silverware.
“My prayer or wish is to see the club succeed. Hopefully, in the upcoming season, they can do better than what we have done because I’m also included in that space. I have been there for three seasons, and they were not of Chiefs’ standards, and I want to wish the club all the very best, and hopefully I can also post the gents lifting the league trophy, lifting the cup. I left, but they are still my team, and I want to see them succeed.”
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