Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Ndlovu urges fans to ‘be patient’ as new era takes shape

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu has pleaded with Amakhosi supporters to stay patient and “trust the process” as the club embarks on another bid to revive its fortunes.

The Soweto giants have just completed a pre-season camp in Spain as they seek to rebuild under coach Fernando da Cruz following several years of inconsistency in domestic and continental competitions.

Chiefs used the European tour to step up their preparations for the new campaign, playing three testing friendly matches against overseas opposition.

Mixed results but signs of progress in Spain

Amakhosi began their Spanish camp with a 1-1 draw against Scottish giants Rangers, a club with a rich European pedigree and regular participants in UEFA competitions.

They then shared the spoils again with another 1-1 stalemate, this time against Saudi Pro League side Al Kholood, before narrowly losing 2-1 to Spanish La Liga outfit Elche CF in their final outing.

While the results were modest on paper, they offered Fernando da Cruz the opportunity to assess his squad against diverse styles and high-calibre opposition as Chiefs look to sharpen both fitness and tactical cohesion ahead of the new season.

The club’s hierarchy and technical team are determined to restore Chiefs to the status of genuine title challengers in the league and credible competitors in African inter-club tournaments, after several years in which the team has struggled to sustain consistency and silverware.

‘We are building something special’

Amid growing expectations from the fan base, Ndlovu has moved to reassure supporters that the groundwork being laid in pre-season will pay off over time.

“I beg for our fans to be patient and trust the process because I believe we are currently building something special and the supporters are always a big part of it,” the midfielder said.

His comments underline a broader message from within the camp that Chiefs are in a transitional phase, focusing not only on immediate results but also on establishing a clear playing identity and long-term stability under Da Cruz.

Players and staff are said to be buying into the coach’s methods, with the Spanish camp viewed internally as a crucial step in fostering unity and understanding within the squad.

First test in front of home fans

Supporters will not have to wait long to see whether the Spanish preparations translate into improved performances on home soil.

Chiefs are next scheduled to feature in the Toyota Cup, where they will face Zimbabwean side Scottland FC on 26 July at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

The match will offer Amakhosi fans a first glimpse of the team’s progress under Da Cruz since returning from Europe, as well as a chance to gauge how new tactical ideas and combinations might shape the season ahead.

For now, Ndlovu’s appeal for calm and patience reflects an awareness within the dressing room that expectations at one of South Africa’s biggest clubs are always high and that success, if it comes, will have to be built, not assumed.