Kaizer Chiefs’ Future on Display as DDC Champions Embark on Elite UK Development Tour
Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge champions have officially arrived in England for an 11-day development tour that will see the young Amakhosi stars face some of the most respected youth structures in world football.
The reigning DDC champions earned the trip after a remarkable 2024/25 campaign, and the club believes the UK tour represents a major step in their long-term youth development vision.
Chiefs will play three high-profile friendly matches against Manchester United U21, Leeds United U21, and Queens Park Rangers U21, offering the squad a rare opportunity to test their abilities against top-tier European academies.
Their first fixture is scheduled for Friday, 28 November against Manchester United, followed by a clash with Leeds United on 2 December, before concluding the tour with a London meeting against QPR on 6 December.
Elite Exposure and Academy Knowledge Exchange
Beyond the fixtures, Kaizer Chiefs’ players will engage in academy exchange programmes with both Manchester United and Liverpool. These sessions will include joint training, tactical insights, and direct interaction with coaches responsible for producing Premier League and international stars.
The team will also attend the Premier League clash between Leeds United and Chelsea, tour Carrington Training Complex, and visit the Premier League’s London offices during their stay. Chiefs management believe these experiences will fast-track the group’s football intelligence and professionalism.
Mabaso: “We Are Going There to Compete”
Chiefs DDC captain Thulani Mabaso, who was part of Chiefs’ pre-season tour of Europe earlier this year, said the squad was determined not only to gain experience but to compete strongly.
“I am thankful to the club for this opportunity. My personal goal is to win all the games,” Mabaso said.
“I now understand the pace and style of football overseas. It’s quicker passing, less time on the ball. That experience helped me a lot, and it will help the team this time too.”
Mabaso added that unity and focus would be crucial if Chiefs are to make an impression:
“We need to work hard, fight for one another and stay united. Some teams travel for the experience, but we believe we can win.”
Motaung Jr.: “This Is Where Kaizer Chiefs Want to Be”
Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr. praised the young team’s record-breaking DDC campaign and said the club was proud to see its youth structures competing internationally.
“It’s very special. We want our teams on the global stage,” he said.
“They broke records last season and earned this reward. It’s a fitting send-off. The opposition is world-class, and that’s the level we want to test ourselves against.”
Motaung noted that Stellenbosch FC’s strong showing on a similar tour last year raised the bar.
“Stellenbosch set the standard. Now it’s our turn to represent the country and show what Kaizer Chiefs is building at youth level.”
A Major Investment in Chiefs’ Future
The DStv Diski Challenge continues to be one of South Africa’s most important youth development platforms, and Chiefs’ participation in this international programme highlights the club’s long-term commitment to elevating young talent.
The club believes that experiences like this UK tour will accelerate the readiness of players pushing for senior-team inclusion — something Mabaso himself hopes to achieve soon.
As the first team prepares for their CAF Confederation Cup clash against Zesco United this weekend, the Chiefs academy is simultaneously flying the club’s colours proudly on European soil, signalling a future in which Kaizer Chiefs aim to compete — and succeed — both locally and beyond Africa.
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