Kaizer Chiefs wrap up Netherlands Tour: Who fired, who flopped

Kaizer Chiefs have concluded their pre-season tour in the Netherlands after playing five matches in July.

The Soweto giants have been training in the Netherlands for nearly three weeks as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. In the five matches they played, the Chiefs lost four of the five, but there are some positives to take away from those games.

Amakhosi kicked off their pre-season tour with a match against SBV Vitesse Arnhem last week, where they went down 2-1. Their next match was against FC Utrecht, where they got humbled 4-0.

Kaizer Chiefs humbled in the Netherlands

A day later, Nasreddine Nabi’s men suffered their third straight defeat following a 1-0 loss to NEC Nijmegen. Chiefs regrouped and played their best football against PEC Zwolle on Tuesday. Naledi Hlongwane scored a second-half goal to give the Glamour Boys something to smile about.

On Wednesday, Amakhosi concluded their tour with a 2-1 defeat to FC Twente. Most of the Kaizer Chiefs players looked decent during the Netherlands Tour, but they are a few who stood out.

Which Kaizer Chiefs players excelled?

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Thabo Cele and Aden McCarthy are three players who impressed the most during the pre-season tour.

Having joined Chiefs in January, Cele immediately hit the ground running and became one of the most impressive players in the team despite their poor 2024/25 campaign.

Which players flopped?

New signing Flavio Silva looked sluggish in the four games he played. At 29, all eyes will be on him this season with Amakhosi fans desperate for a good signing. The Portuguese striker failed to score or create chances in the Netherlands and that should worry Kaizer Chiefs.

Mduduzi Shabalala is another player who produced a subpar performance. Many expected him to lead Amakhosi’s attack, but failed to make the magic he showed in the early stages of the 2024/25 season.