Former FIFA World Cup and Ajax Amsterdam star hopeful for Kaizer Chiefs upcoming season despite recording four defeats in the Netherlands - 'Being competitive and challenging for trophies'

Kaizer Chiefs have been in the Netherlands for pre-season ahead of the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign.

They played five friendly games; against Vessel FC, FC Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, Zwolle, and FC Twente. 

The Glamour Boys lost four but managed a 1-0 win over Zwolle.

Critics feel the results posted by the Glamour Boys still show that Nasreddine Nabi's team is not ready to deliver in the forthcoming campaign.

It is a worrying concern considering the fact that Chiefs want to make a statement in the Premier Soccer League, where they have twice failed to finish in the top eight.

The Soweto giants will also compete in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

Former Ajax Amsterdam and Bafana Bafana star Hans Vonk has a different view.

"I can imagine that the players needed to adjust to the pitches in their first few friendly matches in Holland; the fields here are softer compared to what they are used to in South Africa. The ball circulation is also quicker, especially when facing quality Eredivisie sides. It's something the players needed to adapt to," he said as quoted by the Amakhosi media team.

"I like the organisation of the team. Jersey number 12 [Nkosingiphile Ngcobo], number 74, the left-back [Nkanyiso Shinga] and number 5 [Sibongiseni Mthethwa].

"I am not really interested in those losses. It's pre-season, and that's all about getting ready for the season. It's all about the new experiences in Holland, about playing matches against competitive sides, getting the rhythm right, building a team... That's what a coach is looking at during pre-season

"I really hope that Chiefs will be able to return to the level where they belong. And with that, I mean, being competitive and challenging for trophies," Vonk concluded.

Chiefs have about two weeks to prepare for the Toyota Cup against Asante Kotoko that will be played on July 26.

In the last edition, Amakhosi lost 4-0 to Nabi's former side Young Africans SC of Tanzania.