Kaizer Chiefs’ Youth Revolution Continues: Are These New Faces the Future or Just Another Experiment? ‘Because who needs experience when you have fresh faces, right?’
Kaizer Chiefs have once again demonstrated their commitment to youth development by welcoming two fresh faces into their first-team fold ahead of the 2025-26 Premier Soccer League season.
Goalkeeper Navtali Mua and midfielder Manoba Oswa have been integrated into senior training sessions, signaling a clear intent from head coach Nazarin Nabi to blend youthful energy with experienced campaigners.
The announcement comes amid a busy transfer window for the Sueta giants, who have already secured seven new signings, including notable additions like Ethan Chislet, Flavio Silva, and Asane Vibayi.
Alongside these external reinforcements, Chiefs have also been promoting talent from within their development ranks, a strategy that Nabi has consistently praised as vital for the club’s future success.
Mua and Oswa are no strangers to the senior setup.
Both were part of the club’s preseason tours—Oswa notably featured in the Turkey camp in July 2024, while both were present during the recent media open day at Naturena.
Their inclusion in first-team sessions reflects Chiefs’ ongoing focus on nurturing homegrown talent and providing a pathway for academy players to break into top-flight football.
While the spotlight shines brightly on these youngsters, the club is also preparing to loan out three players who have struggled for regular minutes under Nabi’s management.
Left back Mashian Skewan and midfielder Fiaken Dwari, both academy graduates, along with midfielder Zwan, are reportedly open to season-long loan moves to gain valuable playing time elsewhere.
Mashian’s journey at Chiefs has been hampered by injuries and a red card in the 2021 CAF Champions League final, limiting his appearances to just nine games last season with two assists.
Despite featuring 69 times for the senior team and contributing four goals and five assists, his trajectory at Naturena has stalled.
Newly promoted Durban City FC have expressed interest in bringing the experienced left back into their ranks as they battle to avoid relegation in their maiden Betway Premiership campaign.
Meanwhile, midfielder Zwan, who joined the senior squad in 2023, played 13 matches last season but has yet to cement a regular starting place.
Several Betway Premiership clubs, including TS Galaxy—known for recruiting Chiefs academy products—and Amazuru FC, are monitoring his situation closely.
Rwanda international Fiaken Dwari, who signed with Chiefs in July 2024, has fallen behind goalkeepers Brandon Peterson and Bruce Vulmer in the pecking order.
Chiefs are keen to loan him out to ensure he gains more competitive minutes, which will be crucial for his development and international prospects.
This flurry of loan activity highlights the challenges Chiefs face in balancing squad depth with player development.
While the club is eager to give young talents like Mua and Oswa opportunities, they also recognize the need for some players to seek growth through regular game time elsewhere.
Head coach Nazarin Nabi has been vocal about his belief in youth as the foundation for the club’s future.
“We want to build a team that blends experience with the hunger and energy of young players,” he said during a recent press briefing.
“Promoting Navtali and Manoba is part of that vision. We trust in their potential to contribute significantly this season.”
The integration of Mua and Oswa into the first team is a calculated risk.
Goalkeeper Navtali Mua, though young, has shown promise in training and preseason matches, offering Chiefs a potential long-term option between the sticks.
Meanwhile, midfielder Manoba Oswa provides fresh creativity and dynamism in the middle of the park, areas where Chiefs have sought improvement.
However, the emphasis on youth raises questions about whether Chiefs might be sacrificing immediate results for future potential.
The PSL is fiercely competitive, and pressure to deliver silverware remains intense.
Fans and analysts are divided: some applaud the club’s commitment to homegrown talent, while others worry about the lack of experienced depth and the potential for inconsistency.
Adding to the complexity is the broader context of Chiefs’ transfer dealings this window.
The club’s earlier signings of players like Luke Bartman and Asane Vibayi, both young forwards from Cape Town Spurs, have been accompanied by legal disputes over free agent status and transfer clearances.
These off-field dramas have tested the club’s resilience and focus.
Yet, despite these distractions, Chiefs have started the season positively, with solid performances and a renewed sense of purpose.
Veteran goalkeeper Brandon Peterson’s resurgence, praised by assistant coach Khalil Ben Ysef, has provided a steadying influence at the back.
Peterson’s experience complements the youthful exuberance brought by the new recruits, creating a balanced squad dynamic.
The coming months will be crucial for Chiefs as they navigate the challenges of integrating young players while maintaining competitiveness.
The loan moves for Mashian, Zwan, and Fiaken could prove beneficial if they return with improved skills and confidence, ready to challenge for first-team spots.
For the fans, the excitement of seeing homegrown talent rise is tempered by the realities of top-tier football.
The question remains: can these young stars handle the pressure and expectations at one of South Africa’s biggest clubs, or will the weight of history and competition prove too heavy?
Kaizer Chiefs’ youth revolution is underway, and with it comes both hope and uncertainty.
As the 2025-26 PSL season unfolds, all eyes will be on Naturena to see if this blend of fresh faces and seasoned professionals can deliver the success the club so desperately seeks.
One thing is clear: the Chiefs’ experiment with youth is not just a gamble—it’s a statement.
Whether it pays off or backfires, it will shape the club’s identity for years to come.
So, buckle up, Amakosi fans.
The future is young, and the stakes have never been higher.
