Grinding gears in the Netherlands: Kaizer Chiefs’ pre-season tour puts new signings and Nasreddine Nabi’s system under the microscope

Chiefs chose the quiet town of Apeldoorn as their pre-season base, drawn by its privacy. Just hours after landing, players were already jogging around the historic Het Loo Palace grounds. Since then, they’ve been put through intense sessions, including high-tempo drills. The club’s social media has praised the energy, declaring, “Training has been absolutely fire!” Meanwhile, club management insists that this tour is “a statement, not a holiday” — a subtle nod to the high expectations facing Nasreddine Nabi, especially after finishing ninth in the league last season despite lifting the Nedbank Cup.

Off the pitch, the intensity doesn’t let up. Chiefs have juggled media duties and fan interactions, turning what should be a low-key camp into a high-profile roadshow.

The first friendly offered hope then heartache. Reeve Frosler’s top‑corner screamer gave Chiefs the lead, only for Dillon Solomons’ own goal and Andy Visser’s late stab to flip the script, handing Vitesse a 2‑1 win and exposing familiar frailties at set pieces and second‑phase clearances.

Three days later Utrecht delivered a 4‑0 thrashing as Siebe Horemans struck inside six minutes and Adrian Blake’s second‑half brace capitalised on a disorganised high line that never found its timing.

Nabi fielded two almost entirely different XIs in each match, calling the rout “a mirror, not a verdict,” but the aggregate 6‑1 score already seeded anxiety among a fan‑base desperate to see progress.

The pressure mounted further on Saturday, 12 June as Chiefs fell 1-0 to NEC Nijmegen, extending their winless run in pre-season.

Flávio Silva is learning that glamour comes with glare. After a handful of heavy touches against Vitesse the 29‑year‑old trended for the wrong reasons, with supporters complaining they had been “scammed again”; club legend Collins Mbesuma piled on, warning that Amakhosi strikers “don’t have 45 minutes to settle.”

Ethan Chislett has fared better aesthetically, clips of the Durban‑born playmaker gliding through rondos have gone viral, but his half‑spaces creativity has yet to translate into chances in open play.

By contrast Nkanyiso Shinga, has burned up the left flank, earning the nickname “Inkabi” (hitman) from fans delighted by his progressive passing and fearless overlaps.

Thabiso Monyane’s switch from arch‑rivals Orlando Pirates has injected pace and edge on the right, though his adventurous positioning left gaps that Utrecht ruthlessly filled, a tactical trade‑off Nabi must calibrate quickly.

While the squad grinds, the heat isn’t just coming from the Dutch sun,  it’s pouring in from home. Chiefs’ massive fanbase, famously passionate and brutally honest, has already begun voicing concerns on social media. Much of the frustration is directed at new striker Flávio Silva, whose early pre-season performances have failed to spark confidence. From missed chances to drifting too deep, supporters have questioned whether he has the killer instinct needed to lead the line for a club of Chiefs’ stature.

It’s clear that Nabi and his technical team are under pressure to deliver more than just effort and intensity — they need end product. In a season where only silverware will quiet the critics, the players are not only battling Dutch opponents but also the heavy burden of restoring belief to a fanbase weary of transition and talk. This isn’t just a pre-season — it’s a public audition, and the reviews are already rolling in.

With clashes against PEC Zwolle and FC Twente still to come, the pressure is mounting on Chiefs to show meaningful signs of progress. It’s likely that Nabi and his technical team are hoping for three key improvements: a clean sheet to solidify the backline, fewer lapses at set-pieces and at least a couple of goals from open play.

Ultimately, success in this pre-season won’t be defined by final scores but by visible growth: tighter defensive structure, smoother midfield combinations, and a front line that begins to threaten. If those patterns remain absent, Amakhosi could head back to South Africa with more questions than answers. But should the team begin to click, the storm clouds hanging over Apeldoorn may prove to be the beginning of something far more hopeful.

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