Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has laid down a clear marker for new head coach Fernando da Cruz, revealing that the Frenchman has been mandated to deliver the Betway Premiership title and restore the club’s glory days.
The Frenchman was appointed Amakhosi coach before the start of the current season, as the club ended the co-coaching arrangement of Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze. After a pre-season training camp in Spain and winning the Toyota Cup by beating Zimbabwean side Scottland FC, Chiefs have so far played five competitive games in the 2026/27 season.
They first beat Betway Premiership newboys Kruger United 3-1 before being knocked out of the MTN8 following a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Golden Arrows FC. However, Da Cruz’s men picked themselves up with a 2-0 league victory over Sekhukhune United and then drew 1-1 with Mamelodi Sundowns.
They then drew 2-2 with Richards Bay FC to drop to third on the league standings, two points behind Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, who are tied on 10 points.
As Da Cruz tries to cultivate a winning mentality in his squad, the MTN8 exit was a setback, which leaves Chiefs with four pieces of silverware to play for this term.
It is a season in which they are eyeing the Betway Premiership, which they last won in 2015. Amakhosi will also bid for the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup, which they clinched in 2025 under Nasreddine Nabi. They are also back to play continental football after finishing third in the Betway Premiership last season to secure a CAF Confederation Cup berth. The Soweto giants failed to advance past the group stage in this competition last season.
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Chiefs have made six signings so far this season as they try to build a competitive squad. They have welcomed goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, centre-back Thabo Moloisane and Tanzania international midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa Bitegeko.
Langelihle Phili and Faiz Abrahams [loan] also arrived from Stellenbosch FC, while Khanyisa Mayo’s loan deal from Algerian side CR Belouizdad has been made permanent.
In an interview with FARPost, Motaung confirmed that more arrivals can be expected before the PSL transfer window closes in September, emphasising that the club will fully back Da Cruz in the market to help him deliver on his mandate.
“The new coach obviously knows he has to win the league, he has to win cups, he has to bring the glory days back. He must enjoy his work with the support that we are giving him with the players and everybody,” Motaung told FARPost in an exclusive interview.
“In football, you never stop thinking of any new signings. In football, you are always looking for the best. If you get the best in the market, you get it, and if you can afford it and there is space for them and the coach needs them, we will always support.”
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