As Kaizer Chiefs navigate a crucial pre-season transition in Spain under new head coach Fernando Da Cruz, club legend Frank Makua has issued a stern warning to the board: Stop the transfer market obsession or risk destroying the club’s brightest young talents.
Reflecting on the 2025/26 campaign—where Amakhosi made over 10 signings en route to a third-place finish under the axed duo of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef—Makua believes that flooding the squad with more incoming transfers will completely choke out the development of the academy goldmine.
The Danger of Blocking Youth Pathways
Thus far, Kaizer Chiefs have adopted an uncharacteristically conservative approach to the current transfer window, securing only two marquee names: defender Thabo Moloisane and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner. Makua heavily praises this restraint, arguing that the existing squad contains untapped, elite potential that was mismanaged last season.
Speaking to KickOff, Makua highlighted the specific starlets who deserve a clear path to the starting eleven:
- Mfundo “Obrigado” Vilakazi & Luke Baartman: “Bringing in too many new players will delay the progress of players like Vilakazi and Baartman,” Makua insisted. “There are still players like Khanyisa Mayo, Mfundo Vilakazi, and Luke Baartman who were not given enough game-time by the previous coaches. Maybe this new coach will know how to use them properly.”
- The Risk of Impatience: “How are you going to know that if you rush to release them or loan them? Too many signings will only halt youngsters from the youth structures.”
The Continental Conundrum: Can Da Cruz Survive Without Reinforcements?
While Makua’s plea to protect the youth structures resonates deeply with the fan base, Da Cruz faces a massive scheduling nightmare that might force the board’s hand. Because of last season’s top-three finish, the Glamour Boys are set to battle across four domestic fronts alongside a grueling campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.
To compete with the immense squad depth of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, realistic projections suggest Chiefs still require at least six more high-quality signings to avoid severe squad burnout. Da Cruz must now find the ultimate tactical balance: adding enough depth to survive Africa, without burying his teenage prodigies on the bench.
