What Nasreddine Nabi’s Kaizer Chiefs are still missing heading into the 2025-26 Premier Soccer League season

The centre-forward position has been one of the major problems for Chiefs over the past couple of years, with Amakhosi struggling to find a potent finisher since parting with Samir Nurkovic.

The likes of Jasond Gonzalez, Caleb Bimenyimana, Christian Saile and more recently Ranga Chivaviro have tried without much success to fill that void.

The early signs with Silva have not filled the ever-demanding Amakhosi faithful with much optimism, with the 29-year-old already feeling the heat after firing blanks so far in pre-season.

Although Silva could very well still come good, there’s a feeling Chiefs still need more in that position and the club has been linked with Nigerian marksman Etiosa Ighodaro.

Nabi had a serious headache last season when it came to picking a number-one goalkeeper, and not the kind of headache every coach would like to have.

Nabi initially tried new signing Fiacre Ntwari, but the Rwandan International appeared to struggle with the weight of the Chiefs jersey and his performances suffered.

The Tunisian then put his faith in Brandon Petersen, but the former Bidvest Wits custodian only flattered to deceive as he went on to make some embarrassing errors.

The jersey was then picked up by long-serving academy graduate Bruce Bvuma, who looked decent until he also hit a rough patch of form, forcing Nabi to go back to Petersen.

It is safe to say all three of Chiefs’ goalkeepers have proven to be below the level needed at a club as big as the Glamour Boys and Nabi should dive into the market for a more reliable shot stopper.

Nabi seems to prefer a system where wingers stretch the pitch and deliver crosses for a deadly striker, but Amakhosi lack options in both areas - a lethal finisher and wingers who can deliver precise crosses into the danger zone.

Glody Lilepo, who was signed in the previous window, has been the only player capable of producing those opportunities, but Chiefs have lacked a serious finisher at the end of those chances.

Pule Mmodi, Ashley du Preez and Mfundo Vilakazi are players who enjoy inverting and creating goal-scoring opportunities for themselves rather than their teammates.

Perhaps the potential arrival of Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman from Cape Town Spurs could prove to be just why the doctor ordered the Glamour Boys.

There’s no doubt Thabo Cele has been one of the signings that Amakhosi have managed to get right over the past few seasons; however, it appears he lacks a solid partner in midfield.

With Yusuf Maart departing for Austria, Chiefs will need more numbers in midfield in addition to Siphesihle Ndlovu, who arrived from SuperSport United.

Although Ndlovu is a solid option, Amakhosi will need more reinforcements in that area, and many Chiefs fans are crossing their fingers that Feisal Salam will join from Azam FC in Tanzania.

Chiefs are one of the teams that show immense faith in their academy graduates; however, in all honesty, the bulk of them rarely repay their faith.

The likes of Happy Mashiane, Samkelo Zwane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, and  Bvuma have not lived up to expectations so far.

These players, instead, have contributed to the list of stars who Amakhosi can afford to part with without losing much quality in the squad.

Other players Chiefs could potentially do without are Dillon Solomons, Tashreeq Mathews, Zitha Kwinika and Mthethwa, among others.

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