Da Cruz targets four new attackers as Kaizer Chiefs seek to add ‘different profiles’

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says he wants four more attacking signings – including a new striker and an offensive midfielder – to ensure Amakhosi become “less predictable” in the 2026-27 season.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Kaizer Chiefs Village, Da Cruz confirmed he has asked the club’s hierarchy to recruit a striker, two wingers and an attack-minded midfielder as part of an ongoing squad overhaul.

The French coach, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, believes adding variety in forward areas is essential if Chiefs are to evolve tactically over the coming campaign.

“A striker, new wingers and an offensive midfielder,” Da Cruz said when asked which positions he still wants strengthened.

“We [already] have good profiles, but we asked management to get different profiles, so that we can play different football and be less predictable.”

Push to refresh Chiefs’ attack

Da Cruz’s transfer wish list comes as Kaizer Chiefs step up preparations for the new Betway Premiership campaign, having already moved early in the window to reinforce other areas of the squad.

Midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa, defender Thabo Moloisane and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner have all joined the Naturena-based side as part of what amounts to a major rebuild.

Those three arrivals are viewed internally as the first phase of recruitment, with the club now turning its focus to bolstering the front line in line with Da Cruz’s brief.

The coach did not name specific targets, but stressed the importance of adding players with different attributes to diversify the team’s attacking options over the course of a long season.

Response to last season’s inconsistency

The renewed transfer drive follows an inconsistent previous campaign in which Chiefs struggled to find sustained rhythm, despite eventually securing a respectable third-place finish in the Betway Premiership.

That combination of an improved final position and uneven performances has underpinned the decision to reshape the squad rather than settle for incremental change.

Club management and Da Cruz are understood to be aligned on the need for “quality reinforcements” in advanced areas to help turn more possession into chances and goals.

Toyota Cup to give Da Cruz first real look

The timing of Da Cruz’s public call for further signings coincides with a key moment in Chiefs’ pre-season schedule, as the Soweto club prepare for a high-profile friendly this weekend.

Amakhosi will face Zimbabwean side Scottland FC in the third edition of the Toyota Cup on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

The exhibition fixture is expected to provide Da Cruz with a valuable opportunity to assess his current squad in a competitive setting before the league campaign begins.

With only three new recruits confirmed so far and four more attacking additions requested, the match against Scottland FC will also help the coach and recruitment team clarify where the most urgent gaps remain.

Da Cruz is set to use the Royal Bafokeng encounter to experiment with combinations and evaluate how well existing attackers can adapt to the more flexible, less predictable style he is aiming to implement at Kaizer Chiefs this season.