Latest news with #Kwinika
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Zitha Kwinika confident Kaizer Chiefs are on the right track after Dutch pre-season tour
Large backing in Durban MOSES Mabhida Stadium is calling and Kaizer Chiefs players are promising to deliver. | BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika believes the team is on the right path following their preseason tour of the Netherlands. After several seasons of underachievement—particularly in the league—Amakhosi will enter the new campaign under increased scrutiny. Last season's Nedbank Cup triumph provided a much-needed silver lining, and expectations are now high for a stronger all-round showing. Chiefs have been busy in the transfer market, adding multiple reinforcements to strengthen the squad. The Netherlands tour provided head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team the chance to integrate the new arrivals and assess combinations ahead of the season. Next on the calendar is the Toyota Cup clash against Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, which will serve as a key tune-up before competitive football resumes. Kwinika, who joined the club in 2022 and recently signed a contract extension, is hopeful of increased involvement in the upcoming season, and he believes the preseason trip brought valuable lessons for the team. 'The Netherlands has been good to us, Kwinika said. 'We have learned a lot, and we are definitely going back home as better people and players.' Chiefs faced strong opposition during the tour, including a fixture against former Dutch champions FC Twente. The experience exposed the squad to a higher level of play and a different tactical approach, which the central defender believes was crucial. 'The seconds they spend on the ball are minimal and quite effective. He continued 'The level is a bit high; they understand the moments very well. In whatever they do, they understand the right time to press, when and where to press, and how to keep the ball. 'They have a different way of playing football. In our South African style, we dribble people around, but here they dribble you with the pass.' The 31-year-old continued to add that the squad steadily improved with each match on tour and ended on a high note, which will set them up nicely ahead of the new campaign. 'I think we did well because we gradually grew as a team from the first game to the last game, taking into account the rest and training sessions. I thought we did well, and the boys felt good, and confidence after here is high.' The former Stellenbosch FC defender enjoyed a strong finish to last season after initially struggling for game time under Nabi. A string of injuries to other defenders opened the door for him, and he'll be aiming to carry that form into the new campaign. Ahead of their Toyota Cup outing, Kwinika says supporters can expect to see a new and improved Chiefs team next season. 'Supporters must expect a different team next season. We are growing as a group from where we left off last season. It will be a new season, and from the preseason we were just in now, we learned a lot. 'The Toyota Cup will be where we get to be tested with our African brothers, and even with that, we will be preparing ourselves for CAF competition.
IOL News
7 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs aim for redemption in Toyota Cup against Asante Kotoko
ZITHA Kwinika says the Kaizer Chiefs faithful must expect a highly-improved team from the one they witnessed last season when Amakhosi take on Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup at the weekend. Highly disappointing until they won the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs had a rather forgetful league campaign that sees them missing out on participation in the MTN8 for a second season running. But they are intent on exciting their die-hard followers as early as on Saturday at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium when they host the one-time Ghanaian giants to set the scene for what is to come. Smashed 4-0 by Tanzania's Young Africans last year, Amakhosi are eager to ensure the trophy remains home this time around. And defender Kwinika believes their pre-season tour of the Netherlands has helped turn them into an improved lot. 'The supporters must expect a different us in the Toyota Cup,' he said in an interview with the club's media department. 'We are growing as a group from where we left last season. We are adding blocks from that and from the pre-season we went through we really learnt a lot. We are going to be different.' Kwinika is excited that they are getting the opportunity to play opposition from the continent as this will help them get ready for their participation in the CAF Confederation Cup, for which they qualified courtesy of their victory in the Nedbank Cup. 'The Toyota Cup is where we are going to test ourselves against our African brothers as we are preparing ourselves for CAF, so it is still all in building block stage.' Kwinika feels he has personally grown from the Dutch experience. 'It was good for me, but the thing in football is that it is not mainly about me. To do well, I need my teammates. Personally, I got a lot of fitness from it. "As a team it was important how we sync and bringing the other (new) players into the team and it was a great one for the group at large. The Netherlands was good to us, we learnt a lot and we definitely came back home as better players and better people.' The 31-year-old says playing against teams of a much higher level will stand them in good stead for the upcoming domestic campaign. 'To be honest, the level is a bit high (in the Netherlands). Football is football yes, but they understand moments very well; they know the right time to press and where to press," he said. "The passing is precise and how they keep the ball is different from the way we keep it. While here at home we dribble around, they dribble you with a pass. And the seconds they spend on the ball are minimal but effective.' While Chiefs won a single match of their five outings in Holland, Kwinika – like the rest of Chiefs at Naturena – believe the tour was a success. 'We did well because we gradually grew as a team from the first game to the last game and the boys felt good and the confidence is high now.' That confidence, he says, will be evident on Saturday.
The South African
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs transfer news: Mayo, Kwinika, Jaedin Rhodes, new striker
Kaizer Chiefs have concluded their pre-season tour to the Netherlands with one win and four defeats. Having spent nearly three weeks in the Netherlands, Amakhosi will now return to South Africa to finalise their preparations ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. The Soweto giants will play Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko next weekend in the Toyota Cup. So far, Chiefs have made seven signings but are expected to bring in more players before the transfer window closes in September. The Glamour Boys have been linked with ex-Cape Town City stars, Jaedin Rhodes and Khanyiso Mayo. The latter is contracted to CR Belouizdad until 2027, but Rhodes is reportedly a free agent and is highly wanted by the big three South African clubs. Mayo has been linked with Amakhosi since 2022 but failed to sign the striker last year after Algerian giants tabled the offer hours before Kaizer Chiefs. With only one striker signed for the season, some fans feel the club need to go out and spend big on a prolific forward. It appears that George Matlou and Zitha Kwinika have extended their stay with Amakhosi. The two players hardly played last season under Nasreddine Nabi but it appears to Tunisian has decided to give them another chance at Naturena. Former Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite was delighted that Amakhosi renewed Kwinika's contract. 'Firstly, congratulations to Zitha on his extension. He's a homegrown talent and I had the privilege of working with him when he got promoted from the juniors when I was still at Chiefs. Around that time I tipped him to be part of the next generation to take Amakhosi to the next level. Him, Pule (Ekstein) and (Chris) Matombo,' Mashamaite said to Soccer Laduma . After spells at Chippa United, Bidvest Wits and Stellenbosch, Mashamaite feel Kwinika hasn't really blossomed to his full and true potential. 'And my theory is that I know Zitha to be a centre back. But he was at times used as a right back (under Arthur Zwane), which I think he did pretty well in that position. 'But I feel like his true potential is in the centre back position. He played as a centre back in the Nedbank Cup final, which might be the reason why he has a new chance,' said the former Kaizer Chiefs defender. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs tie down Zitha Kwinika
Kaizer Chiefs have retained the services of utility defender Zitha Kwinika for the upcoming season. Kwinika returned to the Glamour Boys two seasons ago following an impressive stint with Stellenbosch FC. However, he appeared to be struggling for form and consistency over the past two seasons with Chiefs. Last season, Kwinika lost his place in the Chiefs starting line-up as Nasreddine Nabi preferred Inacio Miguel and Rushwin Dortley as his centre-back pairing. The Amakhosi youth product was sometimes used as a right-back whenever the team had injury concerns. Now, SABC Sport reports that Kwinika has been handed a one-year contract extension after impressing Nabi and his Chiefs technical team. The departure of Edmilson Dove a few weeks ago means there is still hope for Kwinika to feature in that centre-back position next season. Zitha Kwinika stays at Kaizer Chiefs. Image: 'SABC Sport can reveal Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika has finally put pen to paper on a one-year contract,' reads part of the report. 'The centre back had been the subject of speculation regarding his future at Naturena with his initial deal set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season – and at the time Kwinika appeared surplus to requirements.' Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs favourite earns new deal as out-of-favour star exits
Kaizer Chiefs have rewarded Zitha Kwinika with a contract extension after the defender ended the 2024/2025 season on a high. The club opted to retain the reliable centre-back, who originally returned to Naturena in July 2022 on a three-year deal from Stellenbosch FC. The Chiefs academy graduate worked his way up through the ranks before leaving in 2016. He gained experience across several PSL clubs, including Chippa United, Thanda Royal Zulu, Bidvest Wits, and Stellenbosch, before shining at Stellies, where he clinched their Player of the Season award. His impressive performances prompted Amakhosi to bring him back into the fold. Kwinika featured in 28 matches during his first campaign back in Soweto. Though his game time dipped to 18 appearances in his second season, he proved his worth when it mattered most. Despite Kaizer Chiefs bolstering their defensive line with new signings Inacio Miguel, Rushwin Dortley, and Bradley Cross under head coach Nasreddine Nabi, Kwinika found chances hard to come by earlier in the season. Cross even filled in as a left-back, further complicating selection. However, injuries to Miguel and Dortley opened the door, and Kwinika seized the opportunity with commanding displays that earned him the club's trust once again. While one player secures his future, another heads for the exit. Chiefs have officially parted ways with midfielder Mduduzi Mdantsane after a disappointing stint at the club. Mdantsane arrived at Naturena in June 2023 from Cape Town City with high expectations, but the move failed to deliver. An untimely motor vehicle accident injury early in the 2024/25 season sidelined the 30-year-old and disrupted his momentum. He failed to make a single appearance for Amakhosi and was shipped out on loan to Richards Bay in January. Will these Kaizer Chiefs decisions take them forward? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
