Chiefs Fans Watching January Window With Hope — and Fear
Kaizer Chiefs supporters are bracing for another busy and potentially decisive January, with exits and arrivals expected when the transfer window opens next month. The warning signs have already been raised by the club’s Head of Scouting and Recruitment, Thembela Maliwa, who has indicated that movement is inevitable as Amakhosi fine-tune their squad.
The Soweto giants are no strangers to heavy turnover. During the previous June–September window, Kaizer Chiefs underwent a sweeping overhaul, releasing 10 players and bringing in 11 new faces in an attempt to reset a squad that had stalled in recent seasons.
A season of change at Naturena
Among those who departed were captain Yusuf Maart, who joined SV Ried in Austria, striker Ranga Chivaviro to Al-Adalah in Saudi Arabia, and defender Edmilson Dove, who moved to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in Iraq.
On the incoming side, Chiefs cast the net wide. Full-backs Nkanyiso Shinga, Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako arrived, while free agents Etiosa Ighodaro and Lebohang Maboe were signed from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Midfielder Ethan Chislett came in from Port Vale, Siphesihle Ndlovu arrived from SuperSport United, while youngsters Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman joined from Cape Town Spurs. Foreign additions Flávio Silva and loanee Khanyisa Mayo completed the rebuild.
January already mapped out
Speaking on the Africa Connect podcast, Maliwa revealed that January plans were wrapped up months ago, with eyes already firmly on mid-2026. He stressed that modern recruitment is a long-term process involving constant engagement with coaches, the sporting director and detailed player reports — not a last-minute dash once the window opens.
Kaixer Chiefs Fans hopeful, but deeply sceptical
While Chiefs head into 2026 sitting fourth on the Betway Premiership table and still within touching distance of the leaders, sections of the fanbase remain unconvinced.
Some supporters have questioned the effectiveness of the scouting department, pointing to players who arrived with promise only to be discarded within a season. Others have gone as far as suggesting Chiefs should benchmark their recruitment models against clubs like Sundowns or TS Galaxy, arguing that too much money has been wasted on short-term fixes.
There is also anxiety about squad balance. Fans worry that adding more players in January could disrupt those still settling in, while failing to move on “dead wood” could leave the squad bloated and unfocused. At the same time, many believe one or two proven signings — particularly in attack or central defence — could genuinely tilt the title race.
Names such as Devin Titus, Sphelele Mkhulise and even out-of-favour striker Tshegofatso Mabasa continue to dominate supporter wish-lists, reflecting both ambition and impatience.
As January approaches, the mood around Naturena is clear: hope remains alive, but patience is thin. For Chiefs’ recruitment team, this window may be less about numbers — and more about finally getting the calls right.