Kaizer Chiefs up and running on their Netherlands' preseason tour

As Kaizer Chiefs went through their drills at their base, Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands on Friday afternoon, they were snapped in a huddle, praying in the forest.

Amakhosi landed at Amsterdam Airport late Friday morning after an 11-hour direct flight from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.

After checking in at Bilderberg Hotel De Keizerskroon, the players enjoyed a loosening up session late afternoon on a grass area just across Het Loo Palace.

The Het Loo Palace, where the Dutch royal family used to live, is beautiful with trees this time of the year given that it’s summer in the Netherlands.

Chiefs want to be a ‘force of nature’ next season, and challenge for all the trophies up for grabs, including the Betway Premiership.

And that’s why they’ve taken their pre-season camp to the Netherlands where they’ll face Dutch sides Vitesse, FC Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle and FC Twente.

It’s the second pre-season camp in a row which Chiefs has held outside the country, having flown out to Turkey last winter.

Last season's preparations didn’t go according to plan as they only won the Nedbank Cup, missed out on Carling Knockout and finished ninth in the Betway Premiership.

Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi and his bosses are hoping for a different change of fortunes next season, and that’s why they opted to prepare in the Netherlands.

Amakhosi are seemingly leaving no stone unturned in making sure they improve their season and get back to winning ways.

preparing and praying around natural environments which have royal lineage to absorb the energy which will make them forces to be reckoned with.

Chiefs also brought to the Netherlands some of their new signings, notably Ethan Chislett, Thabiso Monyano, Flavio Silva and Nkanyiso Shinga.

Other Chiefs’ new signings include Paseka Mako who has allegedly broken his arm and Siphesihle Ndlovu who was also announced by the club on Saturday morning.

Amakhosi’s striker Tashreeq Morris is happy to be back in the Netherlands, having visited the country many times during his time at Cape Town Spurs’ academy.

“I slept well on the plane," Morris told Chiefs’ media team. “The country is beautiful. I am also looking forward to the friendly matches against top Dutch sides.”

Right-back Reeve Frosler also managed to get some sleep on the flight, but still caught up on his favourite TV-series 9-1-1.

The 27, who’s making his second visit to the Netherlands, is fully-fit and ready for pre-season after dislocating his shoulder bone last season.

Frosler, who was part and parcel of the squad that visited Turkey last season, revealed his impression about their tour of the Netherlands.

“I like it that we know this year exactly who we will be playing against. Besides that, the environment where we stay is very nice. Very quiet also,” he also told Chiefs’ media unit.

“Pre-season is always so important as that’s where you lay the foundation for the season. The atmosphere in camp is excellent. Pre-season is hard work, but we are ready for it!”

Meanwhile, Chiefs are reportedly without captain Yusuf Maart, for their pre-season tour in the Netherlands as an overseas transfer is imminent. 

According to online publication FarPost, Maart is close to signing for an Austrian club as he’s awaiting his work visa.