Fernando Da Cruz sends bold message to Kaizer Chiefs fans as trophy mission begins
Fernando Da Cruz has wasted little time in setting the tone for a new era at Kaizer Chiefs.
The newly appointed Amakhosi head coach has delivered a clear and passionate message to the club’s loyal supporters, promising that his squad will do everything within its power to restore the glory days and bring silverware back to Naturena.
After years of frustration and inconsistency, Chiefs fans are desperate for sustained success. Da Cruz knows the expectations that come with one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs, and he has made it clear that winning trophies is the ultimate target for the 2026/27 campaign.
The French coach recently signed a two year contract with Kaizer Chiefs, taking over from Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who guided the club from September 2025 until the conclusion of last season.
While Kaze and Ben Youssef managed to steer Amakhosi back into the top three after two difficult seasons spent outside the Premiership’s top eight, the club’s hierarchy decided it was time for a fresh approach. That decision led them to Da Cruz, who arrives after spending the past two years as technical director of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
With pre-season preparations now under way in Spain, Da Cruz believes the foundations are being laid for a competitive campaign.
“The conditions for the camp in Spain are excellent. The weather is very hot, and we have three challenging friendly matches, which I believe are good preparation for us,” he said.
Chiefs have already offered supporters an early glimpse of what could lie ahead, holding Scottish giants Rangers to a 1-1 draw in their opening pre-season friendly. New striker Etiosa Ighodaro found the back of the net, providing an encouraging moment as the squad continues to adapt to its new coach’s methods.
For Da Cruz, however, pre-season results are only part of the bigger picture. His focus remains firmly on building a team capable of competing for honours, and he believes the supporters will be vital in that pursuit.
The 54 year old has urged the Amakhosi faithful to stand shoulder to shoulder with the team throughout the season, insisting that success will require unity on and off the pitch.
“I hope all the fans will be behind the team to help us have a good season. We will try our best to win silverware, and we need our supporters to help us make that happen,” Da Cruz said.
His message is simple but significant.
Kaizer Chiefs have endured several seasons of rebuilding and near misses, with expectations rising every year. Now, under new leadership, the pressure is once again on to transform promise into trophies.
Whether Da Cruz can deliver the success that supporters have long been craving remains to be seen, but his ambition is unmistakable. The mission has begun, and the challenge is as clear as the message he has sent to the Amakhosi faithful: the pursuit of silverware starts now.
