Zuko Komisa

- Kaizer Chiefs have officially appointed 54-year-old Frenchman Fernando da Cruz as their new head coach on a two-year deal with an optional extension.
- Holding a UEFA Pro Licence, Da Cruz brings a track record of youth development from Lille and a Moroccan league title with AS FAR Rabat.
- Succeeding Nasreddine Nabi, he takes charge on 1 July 2026, tasked with ending Amakhosi’s ten-year league drought as pre-season training commences today.
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the appointment of Fernando da Cruz as their new head coach.
The 54-year-old Frenchman has signed a two-year contract, which includes a one-year extension option, and will officially take charge of Amakhosi on 1 July 2026.
“Kaizer Chiefs are pleased to confirm the appointment of Fernando da Cruz as Head Coach. He has signed a two-year contract with a one-year option, effective 1 July 2026.”
Da Cruz, who holds the prestigious UEFA Pro Licence, is already familiar with the Naturena setup, having briefly worked with the club during a pre-season stint two years ago. He subsequently joined the Moroccan Football Federation as Technical Director, a role he occupied until the end of June.
The tactician arrives with an impressive resume, having played a pivotal role in developing world-class talents like Eden Hazard and Victor Osimhen during his time at Lille.
Furthermore, he secured the 2022/23 Botola Pro title with AS FAR Rabat, deploying a dynamic 4-2-3-1 system centred around youth and rapid transitions.
Da Cruz replaces Nasreddine Nabi, whose turbulent tenure yielded a Nedbank Cup victory but concluded with a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Supported by assistant coach Mahmoud Abbas and a blend of local staff, Da Cruz begins pre-season training today amidst immense fan anticipation and the heavy expectation to end a decade-long silverware drought.
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