Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has emphasized the importance of laying a strong foundation during their pre-season camp in the Netherlands, anticipating a demanding season ahead.

The Chiefs squad departed for the Netherlands earlier this week and arrived safely on Friday afternoon at their pre-season base in Apeldoorn, where they will spend the next two weeks.

This intensive camp will see Chiefs play five training matches in their second week, facing Vitesse, FC Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle, and FC Twente.

Unlike recent seasons, Chiefs will participate in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, a direct result of their Nedbank Cup victory over Orlando Pirates in May. Petersen notably started that final, a surprising selection ahead of Bruce Bvuma.

“We are in pre-season where we are laying the foundation, where we sweat and suffer now so we can shine later,” Petersen stated from the Netherlands.

“We are obviously busy going through our paces, pushing the limit, pushing the body to the max, like I said, to set the foundation for the coming season.”

He continued, “We have a big season lying ahead with CAF as well, all of that. So, it is very important what we do now as a team, not just physically, but I think as a team to get that togetherness, that brotherhood.

“There are new players who came in, and the important thing is to welcome them, to gel as soon as possible and become one unit. When the league starts, people come out and watch us and see one unit, one force so we can hit the ground running.”

Winning the Nedbank Cup was a significant milestone for Chiefs, marking their first trophy in 11 years. The club last lifted a major domestic knockout trophy in 2014, beating the same Pirates in the MTN8 during the 2014/15 season.

They capped that season by also winning the league title, achieving a domestic double. However, those glory days have become a distant memory, with Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates consistently dominating and claiming titles.

Petersen highlighted the Ke Yona Cup win as crucial, especially since they finished outside the top eight for the second consecutive season.

“Yes, lifting the trophy last season was a major boost for us,” Petersen affirmed.

“I think it was something we needed. It was like a silver lining for us. I think that can be our building block for the new season coming, where we can use that as fuel because you can see the hunger, the determination in players’ faces, especially after lifting that trophy.

“You know they want more; they want more success. So, hopefully, that is one of the main building blocks for us for this coming season, where we can use it as a stepping stone to go out and achieve more and win more trophies.”