Kaizer Chiefs F.C.

Kaizer Chiefs were founded in January 1970 shortly after the return of Kaizer "Chincha Guluva" Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name of Kaizer Chiefs. Several other people have played key roles in the formation and growth of Kaizer Chiefs, including the late Gilbert Sekgabi, Clarence Mlokoti, China Ngema, Ewert "The Lip" Nene, and Rabelani Jan Mofokeng, he trailed and quit because of work.[6]

Kaizer Chiefs are known as "Amakhosi" by its fans, a Zulu word meaning "kings" or "chiefs". Their headquarters is Kaizer Chiefs Village, in Naturena, six kilometres south of Johannesburg.[6]

The 2001–02 season was one of the Club's most successful in their history as well as their most tragic. They won four major trophies in four months; the Vodacom Challenge, the BP Top Eight, the Coca-Cola Cup, and the African Cup Winners' Cup.[7] At the time the team was said to have been a team that was on "Operation vat alles" by its then public relations officer Putco Mafani, "vat alles" being an Afrikaans statement meaning "take everything" in English. However, the highs of cup wins was contrasted by the lows of the Ellis Park Stadium disaster on 11 April 2001, in which 43 fans were crushed to death during the Soweto Derby between Chiefs and their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.[8]

By winning the African Cup Winners' Cup, Chiefs played the 2001 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the 2002 CAF Super Cup. In April 2002, Kaizer Chiefs' achievements during 2001 were recognized as they were chosen as the "CAF Club of the Year" by the Confederation of African Football.[6]

In the 2003–04 season Chiefs were given the Fair Play Award at the Peace Cup in South Korea. Chiefs ended the season as league champions, winning the PSL for the first time in their history.[9]

During the championship race of the 2004–05 soccer season, Chiefs overtook the season-long leaders (Orlando Pirates) in the last game of the season to defend its PSL championship. Under the leadership of Romanian coach Ted Dumitru, Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma had a record-breaking season scoring 39 goals in all competitions.[10]

Kaizer Chiefs' forays into Africa were temporarily scuttled by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban.[11] However, it still made its presence felt through the annual Vodacom Challenge that pit Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates with an invited European club. Chiefs have won the Vodacom Challenge Cup 5 times since its inception. They beat a young Manchester United side 4–3 on penalties in the 2006 Challenge to win the trophy.[12]

In March 2007, coach Ernst Middendorp and the club parted company. The club instantly appointed their rival Orlando Pirates' former coach Kosta Papić for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[13]

Muhsin Ertuğral returned for the 2007–08 season to begin his second stint with Chiefs, having already coached The Glamour Boys from 1999 until 2003.[14]

Under coach Ernst Middendorp in the 2019/20 season, Kaizer Chiefs topped the table from the seventh matchday of the season until infamously losing the title on the final day, which saw the club finishing two points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns.[15]

On 26 June 2021, the team secured their first CAF Champions League final appearance after defeating Wydad AC by a 1–0 aggregate.[16]

On 9 July 2021, Kaizer Chiefs confirmed through Twitter that they signed six players for next season after their transfer ban ended.[17] On 17 July 2021, they lost 3–0 against Al Ahly in the Champions League Final.[18]

The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is one of the most fiercely contested matches in world football, and in contrast to most other games in the South African Premier Soccer League, always attracts a large fanbase.

Kaizer Chiefs qualified to play for the 1997 African Cup Winners' Cup but withdrew from the competition. The team made their first CAF Cup appearance in the year 2000 and only made it to the round of 16. They had the same result in the 2005 CAF Champions League and 2014 CAF Champions League. In the 2018 edition of the CAF Confederations Cup, Kaizer Chiefs reached the playoff round of 30 in which they were eliminated. Kaizer Chiefs are the runner-ups of the 2020-21 CAF Champions League and the 2002 CAF Super Cup after being crowned the Champions of the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup.

Kaizer Chiefs' appearances in African competitions

• CAF Champions league = 5 appearance(s)
• CAF Confederations Cup = 2 appearance(s)
• CAF Super Cup = 1appearance(s)
• African Cup Winners' Cup = 3 appearance(s)
• CAF Cup = 1 appearance(s)

• Most appearances – Doctor Khumalo 497
• Most goals – Marks Maponyane 85
• Most capped player – Siphiwe Tshabalala 91
• Most appearances in a season – Neil Tovey 52 (1992)
• Most goals in a season (all competitions) – Collins Mbesuma – 35 2004/05
• Record win – 9-1 vs Manning Rangers (Coca-Cola Challenge – 23 March 1996)
• Record loss – 1-5 vs AmaZulu (League – 8/6/86), Orlando Pirates (League – 3/11/90)

As of 27 August 2023[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  RSA Brandon Peterson 2 DF  MOZ Edmilson Dove 3 MF  RSA Mduduzi Mdantsane 4 MF  RSA Zitha Kwinika 6 MF  RSA Siyethemba Sithebe 7 FW  RSA Ranga Chivaviro 8 MF  RSA Yusuf Maart 9 FW  RSA Ashley Du Preez 10 MF  RSA Keagan Dolly 11 FW  RSA Tebogo Potsane 12 MF  RSA Nkosingiphile Ngcobo 13 FW  RSA Pule Mmodi 14 FW  COL Jasond González 17 MF  VEN Edson Castillo 18 MF  RSA Dillon Solomons 19 MF  RSA Happy Mashiane

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 FW  COD Christian Saile 22 MF  RSA George Matlou 23 MF  RSA Sifiso Hlanti 24 DF  BOT Thatayaone Ditlhokwe 25 DF  RSA Given Msimango 27 DF  RSA Njabulo Ngcobo 32 GK  RSA Itumeleng Khune (captain) 33 MF  RSA Sabelo Radebe 34 GK  RSA Karabo Molefe 39 DF  RSA Reeve Frosler 42 MF  RSA Mduduzi Shabalala 44 GK  RSA Bruce Bvuma 46 MF  RSA Keletso Sifama

For all Kaizer Chiefs players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players

PSL Era Kaizer Chiefs' all-time 'Best' eleven:

GK_Itumeleng Khune
CB_Patrick Mabedi    
CB_Mohammed Ouseb
RB_Sizwe Motaung                     LB_Tsepo Masilela 
DM_Tinashe Nengomasha
                
                                 CM_Thabo Mooki
                
             AM_Doctor Khumalo    
                
RF_Siyabonga Nomvete                     LF_Jabu Pule 
                   
                    CF_Pollen Ndlanya

Coach:

Ted Dumitru

Subs: GK_Brian Baloyi; RB_Cyril Nzama; CB_Fabian McCarthy; CB_Tefu Mashamaite; LB_David Kannemeyer; DM_Patrick Mbuthu; CM_Reneilwe Letsholonyane; AM_John Moshoeu; LF_Siphiwe Tshabalala; RF_Knowledge Musona; CF_Collins Mbesuma

• Shirt sponsor: Vodacom
• Kit manufacturer: Kappa
• Vehicle sponsor: Toyota
• Bus sponsor: Protours
• Channel: SuperSport
• Beer: Carling Black Label
• Healthcare: Medshield and Kaelo

On 29 October 2012, Kaizer Chiefs announced that they had registered a rugby sevens team to participate in the inaugural 7s Premier League.[27]

• Official website
• PSL Club Info
• Kaizer Chiefs results

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