Kaizer Chiefs youth prospects Naledi Hlongwane and Pheko Phago have completed moves to Cape Town outfit Hope FC, completing a four-man Amakhosi academy reunion in the Mother City for the 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship season.
Centre-forward Hlongwane and midfielder Phago will spend the season on loan at the first-division newcomers, who also have other Chiefs loanees Samkelo Zwane and goalkeeper Bontle Molefe in their books. For Hlongwane, the move comes after he had made first-team progress at Amakhosi with two Betway Premiership appearances last season.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Soweto giants announced: “Kaizer Chiefs can confirm that midfielder Pheko Phago and striker Naledi Hlongwane will move to Cape Town-based Hope FC for this season.
“The duo will link up with fellow Amakhosi Youth Development Academy graduates Samkelo Zwane and goalkeeper Bontle Molefe, who also recently joined the newly formed side competing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship under the PSL umbrella.
“Wishing the boys well in the Mother City.”
AMBITIOUS HOPE FC UNDERLINE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP INTENTIONS
Judging from their transfer activities, Hope FC have been bold about their intentions to fight for promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship into the Betway Premiership. They are debutants in the first division after being promoted from the third tier. Coached by former Bafana Bafana defender Clayton Daniels, it has been a busy transfer window for the Cape Town outfit following their high-profile signings.
The headline arrivals include former Orlando Pirates central midfielder Miguel Timm and ex-Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Lyle Lakay. Former Golden Arrows FC utility star Brandon Theron and veteran midfielder Siyabonga Nhlapo are also part of the Hope FC project.
The Mother City club began their 2026/27Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory over Pretoria University last weekend. They will be hoping to build on that encouraging start by collecting maximum points on the road when they visit Highbury FC on Friday.
It remains to be seen if Daniel will hand Hlongwane and Phago their debut in that game.
RELATED STORY: Kaizer Chiefs confirm loan moves for Samkelo Zwane and Bontle Molefe
