Kwinika says Kaizer Chiefs youngsters are ready to carry the club’s expectations

Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika says the club’s emerging players are prepared to handle the demands of representing one of the biggest names in South African football.

The Amakhosi have placed increasing responsibility on their younger players this season, with five of the club’s eight goals coming from footballers aged 22 or under.

That attacking contribution has coincided with a recruitment strategy focused on youth, as manager Fernando da Cruz continues to shape his squad. The approach has prompted questions over whether Chiefs can sustain their progress while depending so heavily on players still developing their careers.

Kwinika believes age should not determine whether a player is ready to perform for the club.

“There’s no small players at Kaizer Chiefs, this is Kaizer Chiefs and they know the responsibility (that comes with that),” he said.

The defender said joining Chiefs immediately brings a player under the same level of expectation, regardless of their previous experience or stage of development.

“We’re moving away from that mentality of small players and big players, we are all here to represent (the club) and we all know what’s required. Once you sign on the dotted line, you are told what’s at stake and what’s required of you to survive here.”

Several of Chiefs’ younger players have already become important figures in Da Cruz’s plans. Langelihle Phili, Luke Baartman, Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi are among those to have featured prominently this season.

Phili joined Chiefs from Stellenbosch and has already scored in the Betway Premiership. Baartman and Shabalala have also provided an attacking contribution as the club’s young players have been given opportunities to influence matches.

Kwinika said those players understand that being part of the Chiefs first team is not simply about gaining experience or waiting for their chance to develop.

“These are big boys, they are here working for their families and they know what it takes to represent the badge.”

His comments reflect a changing approach at Naturena, where younger footballers are being asked to make an immediate impact rather than being introduced gradually to senior football.

The policy has also given Da Cruz’s squad a different dynamic as Chiefs seek to build a team capable of competing on multiple fronts. The manager’s continued trust in the club’s younger members has enabled them to take on more prominent roles in attack and has increased their influence within the team.

Early results suggest that the players are responding to the responsibility. With five of Chiefs’ eight goals this season scored by players aged 22 or younger, the club’s decision to place faith in its emerging talent is already producing a significant share of its attacking output.

Kwinika’s message is that the label of an inexperienced or “small” player carries little weight once a footballer has signed for Kaizer Chiefs. All members of the squad, he says, are expected to understand the importance of the badge and meet the standards required to represent the club.