'Emphatic' or just enough? Either way Kaizer Chiefs win in Europe could lead the way in SA

The Kaizer Chiefs media department may have gone a little overboard in their description of Amakhosi’s 1-0 victory over PEC Zwolle on Tuesday night.

“Emphatic win for Chiefs in Holland,” read the headline on the club’s match report.

Well, perhaps that’s what happens when you snap a three-match losing streak — any win feels euphoric. But while the victory, courtesy of a second-half goal by substitute Naledi Hlongwane, was deserved, it was anything but emphatic.

Yes, Chiefs showed marked improvement from their previous outings. They were confident in possession, moved the ball forward with purpose, and varied their attacking play — mixing long-range shots with attempts to penetrate through Zwolle’s defence.

Tuesday’s result offered much-needed relief for a team struggling for form. Before that match, Amakhosi had lost all three of their earlier encounters on the Dutch pre-season tour — a 4-0 drubbing by FC Utrecht, a narrow 1-0 loss to NEC Nijmegen, and a 2-1 defeat to SBV Vitesse.

Their final match of the five-game tour took place on Wednesday night against FC Twente.

The win over Zwolle came like rain in the desert for a side in desperate need of momentum as they prepare for the 2025/26 season. Chiefs have made several new signings in a bid to arrest their decline after two consecutive seasons without a top-eight finish.

The decisive goal came after Zwolle’s goalkeeper failed to hold on to a shot from Mduduzi Shabalala. Hlongwane — who had come on for the injured Flavio Silva — was quickest to react, pouncing on the loose ball and burying it. His celebration was one of pure joy, shared with team-mates.

It was a goal straight out of the Kaizer Chiefs Academy — both Shabalala and Hlongwane having risen through the ranks together since under-15 level.

“We have a great understanding, as we basically grew up together,” Hlongwane said. “I know exactly what run to make, depending on the situation, and ‘Shabba’ knows what I will do.

“This time he decided to shoot. As a striker, you might only get one chance during a match — and that’s when you have to be ready.

"So, I ran towards the goalkeeper, hoping for a rebound. And that’s exactly what happened. Scoring the goal was a fantastic feeling!”

Head coach Nasreddine Nabi continued to rotate his squad throughout the match, finishing with Aiden McCarthy as the only player to have completed the full 90 minutes. The Tunisian tactician has used the tour to assess different players and build combinations as part of a longer-term process.

That process is what Angolan defender and new captain Miguel Inacio believes will lay the foundation for a successful season — one that includes league play, domestic cups and participation in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“The victory was great. However, in pre-season, the process comes first — it’s not so much about winning,” Inacio said.

“In that process, you build the Kaizer Chiefs idea. We’ve seen our performances improve with each match.

"Right now, we’re laying the foundation that’s needed to do well when the season begins. Pre-season is about incorporating the coach’s ideas, integrating new players, and establishing tactical understanding.

"Last season, we didn’t get that combination right, even though the process was sound. This time, all those elements came together, and that’s what made for a great performance — and yes, even an emphatic win.”