One of Nasreddine Nabi's Kaizer Chiefs stars returns to Netherlands years after Ajax Amsterdam disappointment

Kaizer Chiefs were hosted by Dutch Ambassador Joanne Doornewaard at her Pretoria residence on Thursday, ahead of the team’s departure to the Netherlands next week for pre-season.

Club officials including Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr. and Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung were in attendance, along with first-team players Bruce Bvuma, Bradley Cross, Rushwin Dortley, Given Msimango and Brandon Petersen.

For goalkeeper Petersen, this trip marks his fifth visit to the Netherlands - his most notable being a 2014 trial with Ajax Amsterdam. A knee injury cut that opportunity short and he was eventually replaced by fellow African talent André Onana. 

“This reception hosted by the Dutch ambassador shows that sport is a unifier," Petersen told Chiefs media.

"We are really all looking forward towards our camp in the Netherlands. It will be a totally different experience,” he concluded.

Amakhosi are expected to be in the Netherlands on 4 July and depart on 19 July. The 2025 pre-season camp will include five friendly matches against competitive Dutch sides, which Motaung Jr. is looking forward to, as he said, "For sure, it will be hard work. However, it will be interesting to see how the players will get into the swing of things and how they measure up against the Dutch opponents, which are strong, including top side FC Utrecht."

Amakhosi’s Dutch adventure gets underway on July 8 at 7pm with a showdown against Vitesse FC. Three days later, on July 11 at 4pm, they take on FC Utrecht, followed by a quick turnaround on July 12 at 2pm when they face NEC Nijmegen.

The action continues on July 15 as Chiefs go up against PEC Zwolle, before wrapping up their Netherlands pre-season tour on July 16 with a final clash against FC Twente in Delden.