WWE star Drew McIntyre sparks global interest in Kaizer Chiefs with gym post

WWE superstar Drew McIntyre has attracted widespread attention after wearing a Kaizer Chiefs jersey during a gym workout.

The Scottish wrestler shared a photograph of himself lying on a bench press while lifting weights, dressed in the South African club’s current home shirt.

McIntyre appeared to acknowledge the significance of Kaizer Chiefs’ famous gold and black colours by captioning the Instagram post with the club’s nickname, “Amakhosi”, alongside gold and heart emojis.

The image has since gone viral, receiving more than 130,000 likes on Instagram and highlighting the reach of one of South Africa’s most recognisable football brands.

Kaizer Chiefs are widely regarded as the biggest brand in the country because of their large following. That standing has remained intact despite a prolonged struggle for silverware, during which the club have fallen behind Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

The attention comes at a time when questions remain over Kaizer Chiefs’ ability to maintain the same level of commercial and global visibility.

Jessica Motaung recently stepped down as the club’s marketing and commercial director. She will, however, remain on the board, ensuring her commercial influence and knowledge of the Kaizer Chiefs brand continue to be present behind the scenes.

McIntyre’s public show of support also follows a separate moment of international interest involving Orlando Pirates.

Members of the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby team, arrived for their Nations Championship match against Scotland wearing Orlando Pirates’ home jersey for the current season. Saula Ma’u was among those seen in the club’s colours.

The two incidents have placed both Soweto giants in the international spotlight and added to the growing profile of the Soweto derby.

Kaizer Chiefs will nevertheless need to translate their strong commercial appeal into improved performances on the pitch if they are to keep global figures such as McIntyre genuinely invested in the club.