Ngcobo eyes revival under new Kaizer Chiefs boss Da Cruz ahead of 2026-27 season

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo says he is targeting a reset to his Kaizer Chiefs career under new head coach Fernando Da Cruz as he looks to secure a regular place in the side in the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.

The 26-year-old midfielder, once regarded as one of the club’s most exciting academy products, is determined to regain his best form after an injury-hit 2025/26 season limited his impact and stalled his progress.

Ngcobo struggled to command a consistent starting role under former co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, with recurring fitness problems repeatedly interrupting his rhythm and restricting his influence in midfield.

Despite those setbacks, he still featured 21 times in all competitions and scored once, but both player and club insiders acknowledge that his overall contribution fell short of the expectations attached to one of Amakhosi’s most naturally gifted playmakers.

Now, with Da Cruz tasked with reshaping Chiefs ahead of the new campaign, Ngcobo believes he has a fresh chance to re-establish himself at the heart of the side.

“I am feeling good and looking forward to the new season,” he told the club’s media team.

“My aim is always to try harder, do the right things and put all of my energy into the game, so I am eager to perform at my highest level this season.”

Long-serving Amakhosi midfielder

Ngcobo is one of the longest-serving members of the current Chiefs squad, having progressed through the club’s youth structures before making his senior debut in 2017.

Since then, he has gone on to make 127 appearances for Amakhosi, scoring eight goals and providing three assists, while displaying flashes of the close control, vision and composure that made him a fan favourite.

However, those moments of quality have too often been punctuated by injuries and spells out of the team, leaving consistency as the missing ingredient in his career to date.

The appointment of Da Cruz, and the tactical overhaul expected under the new coach, has given Ngcobo renewed optimism that he can finally deliver sustained performances over the course of a full season.

Testing Spanish camp sharpens focus

Ngcobo believes Chiefs’ pre-season tour of Spain has given both himself and the squad a strong foundation for the challenges of the upcoming campaign.

Amakhosi spent 10 days at the Pinatar Arena Football Centre in Alicante, where they played three friendlies against Rangers, Al Kholood and La Liga side Elche.

Chiefs drew 1-1 with both Rangers and Al Kholood before rounding off the tour with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Elche. The matches allowed Da Cruz to run the rule over his players and further instil his approach ahead of the new season.

“The training camp went very well. Personally, I found it to be quite testing, a good challenge. I fought to become a better player, a better person,” Ngcobo said.

“Also, as a team, it was a great experience. We all got a lot out of the camp, which we will take into the new campaign.”

Pivotal season for club and player

Chiefs, who have endured a difficult period in their pursuit of major honours, are under pressure to return to the top of South African football, and Ngcobo is aware that the coming season could be decisive for both the club and his own trajectory.

With a new coach in Da Cruz, renewed confidence from a solid pre-season and, crucially, a clean bill of health, the midfielder is hoping the conditions are finally in place for him to fulfil the potential that has long been associated with his name at Naturena.

For one of Chiefs’ longest-serving players, the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign represents an opportunity not just to revive his own career, but to help drive Amakhosi back towards the level their supporters expect.