NATURENA — Newly appointed Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has officially broken his silence, delivering a powerful message of commitment to the Amakhosi faithful as he prepares the club for the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.
The 54-year-old French tactician—who holds a UEFA Pro Licence and previously guided Moroccan giants AS FAR to league glory—is currently whipping his squad into shape during an intense pre-season camp in Spain.
With a massive league opener scheduled against newly-promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 1 August 2026, Da Cruz made it clear that he understands the sheer weight of expectation on his shoulders.
The Blueprint for Success: Facilities & Trust
Speaking to the club’s media for the first time since taking the hot seat, Da Cruz praised the world-class setup at Naturena and thanked the hierarchy for handing him the reins.
“I am grateful to the Chairman, Dr. Kaizer Motaung, and the Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr., for expressing confidence in me,” Da Cruz stated. “I will give my level best to do a good job. I am totally committed to Kaizer Chiefs. I know I am working for the biggest club in the country, one with a lot of fans all over Africa, not just South Africa.”
He highlighted that the training environment leaves no room for excuses:
“The Kaizer Chiefs Village at Naturena has all the facilities needed to do a good job. It is in very good condition—the pitch, the gym, etc. I have a very good feeling about it.”
Preparing in the Heat of Spain
Amakhosi’s European camp has been designed to test the players’ physical limits, featuring three highly demanding friendly matches under grueling weather conditions.
“The conditions for the camp in Spain are excellent. The weather is very hot and we have three challenging friendly games, which I believe is good preparation for us,” the coach explained. “We will try our best to win silverware, and we need our supporters to help us make that happen.”
Profile: Who is Fernando Da Cruz?
Da Cruz brings a unique tactical pedigree and a championship-winning history to the Soweto giants.
[French Futsal Captain] ──> [Lille Youth & Scouting] ──> [Mouscron (Belgium)] ──> [AS FAR Title Winner (Morocco)]
- Tactical Philosophy: Known for extreme discipline, rigorous match preparation, and a preferred 4-2-3-1 setup.
- Futsal Roots: A former captain of the French national futsal team, bringing a sharp appreciation for close-control, quick-transition football.
- North African Success: Led AS FAR Rabat to the 2022/23 Moroccan Botola Pro championship. He later worked alongside former Chiefs target Nasreddine Nabi before a brief technical stint with the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
