Kaizer Chiefs have officially wrapped up their pre-season tour in Spain. For Amakhosi fans, this trip was the first real chance to see how the squad is shaping up ahead of the new season under new coach Fernando Da Cruz.
The Glamour Boys tested themselves against serious international opposition. Despite returning home without a victory, the trip wasn’t exactly a failure.
hey fought hard to secure a 1-1 draw against Scottish giants Rangers, with Etiosa Ighodaro finding the back of the net. That was followed by another 1-1 stalemate against Saudi Arabian side Al Kholood, thanks to a neat finish from Asanele Velebayi.
The tour then ended with a tight 2-1 defeat to Spanish outfit Elche, where Asanele Velebayi continued his hot off-season form by grabbing the only goal for Amakhosi.
Top Kaizer Chiefs performers in Spain
Asanele Velebayi
Velebayi was Kaizer Chiefs’ standout performer in Spain. His was directly involved in all three goals the Amakhosi scored throughout the tour. His assist against Rangers and solitary strikes against Al Kholood and Elche FC proved just how important he’s going to be for the club going forward.
Etiosa Ighodaro
A striker thrives on early confidence, and Ighodaro got exactly that by netting the opening goal of the tour against Scottish giants Rangers. He also showed serious hunger when pressing from the front, something Fernando Da Cruz will need a lot more of in the new season.
Lebohang Maboe
Continuing on from where he left off last season, Maboe has remained an absolute anchor for the Glamour Boys. He looked really sharp in the Al Kholood and Elche matches. His assist against the Spanish side was absolute quality, putting it on a silver platter for Velebayi.
Other notable mentions are Brandon Peterson as well as Reeve Frosler. If the Spanish tour is anything to go by, Frosler looks set for a positional switch. It appears coach Fernando Da Cruz believes he can impact the game more from the middle of the park.
Kaizer Chiefs are next in pre-season action in the Toyota Cup where they’ll face Zimbabwean side Scottland FC on 26 July 2026 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Photo by Gallo Images.
