“Trust The Process”: Ndlovu Urges Patience At Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu has urged the club’s supporters to remain patient as Amakhosi continue adapting to new head coach Fernando Da Cruz’s philosophy, with the Toyota Cup providing an important opportunity to measure their progress ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Chiefs will face Zimbabwean outfit Scottland FC in the third edition of the Toyota Cup on Saturday at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg. The match will serve as the club’s final major test before the start of the new campaign.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys will be hoping to claim their first-ever Toyota Cup title after suffering defeats in the previous two editions of the competition. They lost to Tanzanian giants Young Africans in the inaugural tournament in 2024 before falling to Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko last year.
This year’s fixture carries added significance, with Scottland FC boasting two former Chiefs stars in Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat, adding another intriguing subplot to the eagerly anticipated encounter.
Looking ahead to the match, Ndlovu said the Toyota Cup would provide a valuable indication of how well the squad has adapted to Da Cruz’s methods following their pre-season preparations.
“Going into the Toyota Cup, our main test will be to see how much we are attuned to the new coach’s philosophy and to fine-tune our combinations and general understanding of how we want to play,” Ndlovu told the club’s media department.
“I beg our fans to be patient and trust the process because I believe we are building something special, and the supporters are always a big part of it.”
Chiefs are set to return to South Africa this week following an intensive pre-season training camp in Spain, where they prepared for both the Toyota Cup and the upcoming Betway Premiership campaign. During the tour, Amakhosi tested themselves against quality opposition, taking on Scottish giants Rangers FC, Saudi Pro League side Al Khalood and LaLiga outfit Elche.
Reflecting on the camp, Ndlovu expressed satisfaction with the work the team had put in.
“It has been a wonderful camp. We are very happy to be here to prepare for the new season,” he said.
“We are looking better and sharper with every training session. We have a new coach with a new philosophy, and we are adapting well to his ideas.
“We are all enthusiastic and very ambitious. This is a lovely environment, but we are not here on holiday; we are here to work, and we are putting in the effort every day. We are enjoying it, though.
“It’s always better as a professional to have a full pre-season, especially when you join a new team. So I feel privileged to have had this pre-season with Chiefs to get myself into the right condition for the start of the season.”
Following Saturday’s Toyota Cup clash, Chiefs will turn their attention to the opening match of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season. Amakhosi begin their league campaign against newly promoted Kruger United in Mpumalanga on 1 August, where they will be eager to carry their encouraging pre-season form into Da Cruz’s first competitive campaign in charge.
