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Kaizer Chiefs F.C.

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"Kaizer Chiefs" redirects here. For the British band, see Kaiser Chiefs.

Kaizer Chiefs
Full nameKaizer Chiefs Football Club
Nickname(s)
  • AmaKhosi (Kings)
  • The Phefeni Boys
  • Abafana bokuthula noxolo (The Boys of Love & Peace)
  • The Glamour Boys
Short nameChiefs
Founded7 January 1970; 54 years ago (1970-01-07)
StadiumFNB Stadium
Capacity94,797
OwnerKaizer Motaung
ChairmanKaizer Motaung
ManagerNasreddine Nabi
LeagueBetway Premiership
2023–2410th
Websitehttps://www.kaizerchiefs.com/
Current season
Kaizer Chiefs active departments
Football (Men's) Football (Youth Mixed)

Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Betway Premiership. The team is nicknamed AmaKhosi, which means "Kings" or "Chiefs" in Zulu, and the Phefeni Glamour Boys. Chiefs have won 13 league titles (four in the PSL era) and over 42 cup trophies.[1] The Last time Kaizer Chiefs won a domestic trophy was in 2015 when they won the 2014/2015 PSL league trophy and have since never been able to secure any other domestic trophy thereafter. This is one of the reasons why Kaizer Chiefs fans across the country have been frustrated with the team's lack of Silverware which is nearing a decade despite being one of the richest and most supported PSL teams.[2] As a result, they hold the most trophies amongst all clubs in South Africa and are the most successful team in South African football history since the start of the top flight in 1970. They are the most supported club in the country, drawing an average home attendance of 16,144 in the 2019–20 season, the highest in the league. It led to them being dubbed "The Biggest Club" in Southern Africa. The team plays its home matches at the 94,797-capacity FNB Stadium.[3]

The team has a strong local rivalry with Orlando Pirates, a fellow Soweto team that Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung played for in his early playing career.[1] Famous players who donned the black-and-gold jersey in the past include former national team captains Neil Tovey and Lucas Radebe as well as Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Gary Bailey, John "Shoes" Moshoeu, Shaun Bartlett, Steve Komphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, and Doctor Khumalo.

Kaizer Chiefs were banned by the African Football (CAF) from competing in African club competitions until 2009 after their abrupt withdrawal from the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup. This was the second time in four years that Chiefs had been penalized by CAF for refusal to participate in a competition.

It is the most supported team in South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs had a support base of over 16 million at the turn of the century. In January 2023, Kaizer Chiefs celebrated their 53rd anniversary.[4]

Kaiser Chiefs, the British indie rock/britpop band, was named after the club because Lucas Radebe, a former player of Kaizer Chiefs, captained Leeds United, the team that the band members all supported.[5]

History

[edit]

Kaizer Chiefs were founded in January 1970 shortly after the return of Kaizer "Chincha Guluva" Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name of Kaizer Chiefs. Several other people have played key roles in the formation and growth of Kaizer Chiefs, including the late Gilbert Sekgabi, Clarence Mlokoti, China Ngema, Ewert "The Lip" Nene, and Rabelani Jan Mofokeng, he trailed and quit because of work.[6]

Kaizer Chiefs are known as "Amakhosi" by its fans, a Zulu word meaning "kings" or "chiefs". Their headquarters is Kaizer Chiefs Village, in Naturena, six kilometres south of Johannesburg.[6]

The 2001–02 season was one of the Club's most successful in their history as well as their most tragic. They won four major trophies in four months; the Vodacom Challenge, the BP Top Eight, the Coca-Cola Cup, and the African Cup Winners' Cup.[7] At the time the team was said to have been a team that was on "Operation vat alles" by its then public relations officer Putco Mafani, "vat alles" being an Afrikaans statement meaning "take everything" in English. However, the highs of cup wins was contrasted by the lows of the Ellis Park Stadium disaster on 11 April 2001, in which 43 fans were crushed to death during the Soweto Derby between Chiefs and their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.[8]

By winning the African Cup Winners' Cup, Chiefs played the 2001 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the 2002 CAF Super Cup. In April 2002, Kaizer Chiefs' achievements during 2001 were recognized as they were chosen as the "CAF Club of the Year" by the Confederation of African Football.[6]

In the 2003–04 season Chiefs were given the Fair Play Award at the Peace Cup in South Korea. Chiefs ended the season as league champions, winning the PSL for the first time in their history.[9]

During the championship race of the 2004–05 soccer season, Chiefs overtook the season-long leaders (Orlando Pirates) in the last game of the season to defend its PSL championship. Under the leadership of Romanian coach Ted Dumitru, Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma had a record-breaking season scoring 39 goals in all competitions.[10]

Kaizer Chiefs' forays into Africa were temporarily scuttled by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban.[11] However, it still made its presence felt through the annual Vodacom Challenge that pit Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates with an invited European club. Chiefs have won the Vodacom Challenge Cup 5 times since its inception. They beat a young Manchester United side 4–3 on penalties in the 2006 Challenge to win the trophy.[12]

In March 2007, coach Ernst Middendorp and the club parted company. The club instantly appointed their rival Orlando Pirates' former coach Kosta Papić for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[13]

Muhsin Ertuğral returned for the 2007–08 season to begin his second stint with Chiefs, having already coached The Glamour Boys from 1999 until 2003.[14]

Under coach Ernst Middendorp in the 2019/20 season, Kaizer Chiefs topped the table from the seventh matchday of the season until infamously losing the title on the final day, which saw the club finishing two points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns.[15]

On 26 June 2021, the team secured their first CAF Champions League final appearance after defeating Wydad AC by a 1–0 aggregate.[16]

On 9 July 2021, Kaizer Chiefs confirmed through Twitter that they signed six players for next season after their transfer ban ended.[17] On 17 July 2021, they lost 3–0 against Al Ahly in the Champions League Final.[18]

In the 2023/24 season, Kaizer chiefs finished in 10th position under the interim coach Cavin Johnson, making this their lowest finish in the PSL era.

Stadium

[edit]

Amakhosi Stadium

[edit]
Main article: Amakhosi Stadium

During the past years, the Amakhosi have used no less than nine stadiums in Johannesburg as their home ground, and often rotated between several stadiums during the season. In August 2006, the club made a strategic decision to sign a "mutual interest agreement" with a stadium developer and the local municipality regarding the construction of a new permanent home venue for Kaizer Chiefs, at a total planned cost of R1.2 billion (£105m), which was to be partly owned by the club. This future home venue was named Amakhosi Stadium, and will be situated in Krugersdorp, roughly 40 km west of Johannesburg. Initially it was planned to open in December 2008, but according to the latest revised construction plan, it is now expected only to be finalised by August 2012. The planned stadium was redesigned into a cheaper project, with a new price tag at R700 million, and the capacity being reduced from 55,000 to 35,000 seats.[19] As part of the new revised construction plan for the stadium, it was announced by Kaizer Chiefs, that they no longer plan to be one of the owners of the stadium, but remain ready to support the stadium as a long time committed tenant.

The new stadium was initially planned to be part of a greater sports precinct, into which the club would also move its entire "Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Programme". The Gauteng Provincial Government have agreed to develop the needed infrastructures around the stadium, in order to guarantee sufficient road and railway access for the huge crowd of spectators.

The stadium developers initially had set time lines for the Amakhosi stadium, to open its doors for the public in December 2008. As of July 2010, construction however had not yet started. Kaizer Chiefs announced in August 2010, that construction of Amakhosi Stadium was now expected only to start in autumn 2010, and finalised by August 2012. It had been postponed several years, due to Kaizer Chiefs and its joint partners, facing difficulties to finance the construction. For the football seasons in 2010–12, the team instead planned to use Rand Stadium as their home venue.[20]

Kaizer Chiefs however only played four of their 15 home games at Rand Stadium in 2010–11, due to some experienced capacity problems, with the transportation related infrastructures around the stadium -and a low spectator attendance. Instead the team during this season, played most of their home games, at the big FNB Stadium -Soccer City.[21]

FNB Stadium/Soccer City

[edit]
Main article: FNB Stadium
The completed Soccer City in 2014

FNB Stadium is a stadium located in Johannesburg, with a capacity of 94,736 seats. It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters (SAFA House), where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is housed.[22]

The Soweto Derby

[edit]
Main article: Soweto Derby

The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a fiercely-contested rivalry dating back to 1970, and in contrast to most other games in the South African Premier Soccer League, always attracts a large fanbase.

Honours

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]

Top-flight league titles: 12[23]

Premiership (from 1996–97 to date)

National Soccer League (1985 to 1995)

National Professional Soccer League (1971 to 1984)

  • Champions (5) - record: 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984

Cups: 41

Nedbank Cup (National Cup)

  • Champions (13) - record: 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2012–13

Telkom Knockout (League Cup)

  • Champions (13) - record: 1983,1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010

MTN 8 (Top 8 Tournament)

  • Champions (15) - record: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2014

International

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CAF Champions League

African Cup Winners' Cup

CAF Super Cup

Individual Awards

  • African Club of the Year 2001

unofficial domestic cups

[edit]

Vodacom Challenge

  • Winners (5) - record: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009

Telkom Charity Cup

  • Winners (11) - record: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2010

Carling Black Label Cup

Sales House Champ of Champs

  • Winners:1974,1976,1977,1980,1981,1982,1984

Panasonic Cup

  • Winners: 1986

Ohlsson's Challenge Cup

  • Winners: 1987, 1989

Castle Challenge Cup

  • Winners: 1990, 1991

Stylo Cup

  • Winners: 1970

UCT Super Team Competition

  • Winners: 1972

Shell Helix Ultra Cup

  • Winners: 2019

CUFA Cup

  • Winners: 2024

Home of Legends Cup

  • Winners: 2024

Performance in CAF Competitions

[edit]

Kaizer Chiefs qualified to play for the 1997 CAF Champions League but withdrew from the competition. The team made their first CAF Cup appearance in the year 2000 and only made it to the round of 16. They had the same result in the 2005 CAF Champions League and 2014 CAF Champions League. In the 2018 edition of the CAF Confederations Cup, Kaizer Chiefs reached the playoff round of 30 in which they were eliminated. Kaizer Chiefs are the runner-ups of the 2020-21 CAF Champions League and the 2002 CAF Super Cup after being crowned the Champions of the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup.

Competition Result Year
CAF champions League Round of 16 1993
Round of 16 2005
Round of 16 2014
Round of 32 2016
Runner-up 2020-21
CAF Super Cup Runner-up 2002
African Cup Winners' Cup Withdrew 1997
Champions 2001
Disqualified 2002
CAF Cup Round of 16 2000
CAF Confederations Cup Play-off Round 2014
Play-off round 2018

Kaizer Chiefs' appearances in African competitions

Club Ranking

[edit]

Kaizer Chiefs are ranked 30th on the CAF 5-year ranking for the 2024-25 CAF club Season.

Rank Club 2019–20

(× 1)

2020–21

(× 2)

2021–22

(× 3)

2022–23

(× 4)

2023–24

(× 5)

Total
28 Libya Abu Salim 0 0 0 0 2 10
28 Mali Stade Malien 0 0 0 0 2 10
30 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 0 5 0 0 0 10

Crest and colours

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Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Ref
1990-93 Kappa IWISA [24]
1993-94 United Bank
1994-96 IWISA
1996-97 Reebok
1997-99 TOTAL
1999-01 Vodacom
2001-23 Nike
2023–present Kappa

Club records

[edit]

Premier League era

[edit]
season pos Record
P W D L GF GA GD PTS win%
1996–97 2nd 34 18 12 4 56 23 33 66 52.9 %
1997–98 2nd 34 17 12 5 52 35 17 63 50 %
1998–99 2nd 34 23 6 5 73 34 39 75 67.6 %
1999–2000 3rd 34 16 12 6 40 22 18 60 47 %
2000–01 2nd 34 16 12 6 41 25 16 60 47 %
2001–02 9th 34 12 13 9 38 33 5 49 35.29 %
2002–03 6th 30 14 8 8 42 26 16 50 46.7 %
2003–04 Winners¹ 30 18 9 3 39 11 28 63 60 %
2004–05 Winners² 30 17 11 2 55 26 29 62 56.6 %
2005–06 3rd 30 12 14 4 39 26 13 50 40 %
2006–07 9th 30 11 9 10 42 32 10 42 36.7 %
2007–08 6th 30 10 13 7 32 20 12 43 33.3 %
2008–09 3rd 30 15 5 10 37 32 5 50 50 %
2009–10 3rd 30 14 9 7 39 25 14 51 46.7 %
2010–11 3rd 30 17 8 5 45 23 22 59 56.7 %
2011–12 5th 30 14 8 8 35 23 12 50 46.7 %
2012–13 Winners³ 30 15 12 3 48 21 27 57 50 %
2013–14 2nd 30 19 6 5 43 17 26 63 63.3 %
2014–15 Winners⁴ 30 21 6 3 41 14 27 69 70 %
2015–16 5th 30 11 13 6 39 28 11 50 36.6 %
2016–17 4th 30 13 11 6 39 28 11 50 43.3 %
2017–18 3rd 30 12 12 6 27 22 5 48 40 %
2018–19 9th 30 9 12 9 33 29 4 39 30 %
2019–20 2nd 30 17 6 7 48 27 21 57 56.6 %
2020-21 8th 30 8 12 10 34 37 -3 36 26.6 %
2021-22 5th 30 13 8 9 34 26 8 47 43.3 %
2022-23 5th 30 13 5 12 32 33 -1 44 43.3 %
2023-24 10th 30 9 9 12 25 30 -5 36 30%


Personnel

[edit]

Club officials

[edit]
Position Staff
Executive Chairman South Africa Kaizer Motaung
Marketing and Commercial Director South Africa Jessica Motaung
Football Manager South Africa Bobby Motaung
Corporate Communications Manager South Africa Vina Maphosa

Senior team staff

[edit]
Position Staff
Sporting Director South Africa Kaizer Motaung Jnr
Head Coach TunisiaBelgium Nasreddine Nabi
Assistant Coach Morocco Khalil Ben Youssef
Second Assistant Coach Burundi Cedric Kaze
Goalkeeper Coach Tunisia Ilyes Mzoughi
Strength and Conditioning Coach Tunisia Safi Majdi
Team (Administrative) Manager South Africa Gerald Sibeko

Players

[edit]
As of 20 September 2024[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Africa RSA Brandon Peterson
2 DF Mozambique MOZ Edmilson Dove
3 MF South Africa RSA Mduduzi Mdantsane
4 DF South Africa RSA Zitha Kwinika
5 MF South Africa RSA Sibongiseni Mthethwa
6 MF South Africa RSA Njabulo Blom (loan in)
7 FW South Africa RSA Ranga Chivaviro
8 MF South Africa RSA Yusuf Maart (captain)
9 FW South Africa RSA Ashley Du Preez
10 FW Uruguay URU Gastón Sirino
11 FW South Africa RSA Tebogo Potsane
12 MF South Africa RSA Nkosingiphile Ngcobo
13 FW South Africa RSA Pule Mmodi
14 DF South Africa RSA Rushwin Dortley
16 GK South Africa RSA Bontle Molefe
17 MF Venezuela VEN Edson Castillo
18 DF South Africa RSA Dillan Solomons
19 MF South Africa RSA Happy Mashiane
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 FW Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Christian Saile
22 MF South Africa RSA George Matlou
23 DF South Africa RSA Bongani Sam
24 DF Botswana BOT Thatayaone Ditlhokwe
25 DF South Africa RSA Given Msimango
27 MF South Africa RSA Manqoba Ozoemena
28 MF South Africa RSA Mfundo Vilakazi
29 DF South Africa RSA Donay Jansen (on loan)
30 GK Rwanda RWA Fiacre Ntwari
33 MF South Africa RSA Sabelo Radebe (on loan)
34 DF South Africa RSA Nkosana Mbuthu
36 FW South Africa RSA Wandile Duba
39 DF South Africa RSA Reeve Frosler
42 FW South Africa RSA Mduduzi Shabalala
44 GK South Africa RSA Bruce Bvuma
48 DF South Africa RSA Bradley Cross
84 DF Angola ANG Inácio Miguel

Notable former players

[edit]

For all Kaizer Chiefs players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players

Coaches

[edit]

Rugby

[edit]

On 29 October 2012, Kaizer Chiefs announced that they had registered a rugby sevens team to participate in the inaugural 7s Premier League.[29]

Notes

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Kaizer Motaung | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ www.kaizerchiefs.com {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ^ "worldfootball.net". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs Reacts To 'Identical' Black / Gold Barcelona Kit". Footy Headlines. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Interview: Kaiser Chiefs". Music OMH. April 2005. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Kaizer Chiefs. "The birth of Kaizer Chiefs through the eyes of Kaizer Motaung". kaizerchiefs.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs: Honours". Kaizer Chiefs. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Ellis Park soccer stampede kills 43". sahistory.org.za. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Chiefs win SA league". BBC Sport. 29 May 2004. Archived from the original on 6 June 2004. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  10. ^ "Mbesuma tops in South Africa". BBC Sport. 26 May 2005. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  11. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs slapped with lengthy ban". mg.co.za. 29 May 2005. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Vodacom Challenge results and line-ups". Vodacomchallenge.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Papic takes over from Middendorp - Kaizer Chiefs FC". www.kaizerchiefs.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Ertuğral returns to Chiefs as coach". Sundayszaman.com. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Ernst Middendorp Book Official Website". middendorpbook.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  16. ^ Vardien, Tashreeq (26 June 2021). "Kaizer Chiefs advance to first-ever CAF Champions League final, will face Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly". News24. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  17. ^ Msane, Amanda (10 July 2021). "PSLKaizer Chiefs confirm 6 new players for next season". The Kosi Bay. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Egypt's Al Ahly beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 to win record tenth African crown". BBC Sport. 18 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  19. ^ M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism (16 April 2010). "Playing the blame game". Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Chiefs choose Rand Stadium as home : NewsTime : Sport". Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  21. ^ Independent Online (18 November 2010). "Chiefs and the Bucs great stadium heist". Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  22. ^ "Soccer City". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  23. ^ "Trophy Room - Kaizer Chiefs FC". Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs Kit History". Football Kit Archive. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  25. ^ "South Africa - Kaizer Chiefs FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  26. ^ Gleeson, Mark (April 2012). "48 coaches in 41 years for Amakhosi". Sowtan. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  27. ^ Butler, Compiled by Lynn. "Kaizer Chiefs part ways with Ntseki after turbulent start to the season". Sport. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Johnson thanks Kaizer Motaung while preparing for test against Golden Arrows". sportsbrief.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Kaizer Chiefs get rugby team". Sport24. 29 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
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