Introduction:

As we approach the end of another eventful calendar year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the journey we have shared in 2024 and express my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your unshakable support of Kaizer Chiefs through all the ups of downs of our business and our country.

This year has brought about significant changes for our beloved Club. Together, we have navigated the challenges of transitioning coaches and technical team, embracing new strategies and philosophies that are essential for our growth and success. Our pre-season camp in Türkiye was a milestone, marking the second time in many years that we ventured out of our continent for such an experience. This trip not only strengthened our team dynamics, but it also demonstrated our commitment to elevating the standards of Kaizer Chiefs.

My 2024 Review:

On the football front, the year was rather tough for our senior team, which finished the 2023/24 season in the unfancied and unfamiliar position of 10^th when the season ended in May. This ruled us out of the first competition of the current season, thus derailing our chance of challenging for some early silverware. We never want to find ourselves in such a situation again. But at the end of the day, like any situation, there are lessons in adversity and I certainly believe a lot was learnt by everyone involved with the team.

We obviously sat down and worked hard on taking the right measures to ensure that we change things for the better and turn things around because we owe it to our dedicated supporters.

As communicated at the start of the campaign, we have embarked on a new journey alongside our new technical team, now led by Coach Nasreddine Nabi. This process of building requires time, dedication, patience and a strategic approach, and we are working tirelessly to further strengthen our squad during the upcoming transfer window in January, as well as the next one in June. There are specific areas where enhancements are necessary and, where possible, we are committed to securing the right signatures to equip us for success.

I would like to stress once again that patience is vital during this transformation. With 20 league games still to play, along with the Nedbank Cup, we remain focused and determined to give our all. We are aware that the Amakhosi nation is thirsty for success, and we share that ambition. Together, we will strive to build a team capable of challenging for silverware in the upcoming seasons.

Junior Teams:

We have to give hearty congratulations to our young fellows who continue to make us proud on the field. The Under-13 team won the Gauteng Development League title once again. They also picked up the top 8 competition of their league. Our Under-19s also played their best, winning the regional Engen Knockout in Gauteng before going on to lift the national Engen Champ of Champs title.

We continue to work hard to produce talent for the country through our youth programmes and we will not stop as long as we have the means to positively benefit the game.

We also witnessed our young players represent the country at Under-17 and Under-20 level, which is good for international experience.

Last week, reserve team player, Naledi Hlogwane had a remarkable Carling Cup game against eventual champions, Magesi, scoring two fantastic goals in the match.

I would also like to give kudos to the coaches who continue to deliver silverware with our young guys, as well as producing quality players for the senior team. We look forward to more success in 2025.

PSL:

There were big changes in the League, which have an impact on each one of the 32 members.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for securing Betway as the sponsor of the Premiership competition. This new partnership marks a significant milestone for the League. As it transitions from DStv, promising exciting opportunities for the clubs and our passionate supporters await. We also have to thank DStv for the support they gave to the League over the years and they remain a key partner on the broadcasting front.

I would also like to congratulate the newly-elected Executive Committee members who will serve for the next four years after they were elected in November. It is an honour to be part of this committed team, and I am dedicated to working tirelessly for the betterment of our league and its stakeholders. We also hope to share some knowledge with our new and younger members of the committee. May I also commend those who were in charge of holding the fort in previous Executives Committees, for a job well done

Furthermore, I want to extend my congratulations to the Chairman of the League, Dr. Irvin Khoza, on his re-election. His leadership is invaluable, and I wish him and the entire committee great success in the next four years.

The Support of Our Fans:

I want to take a moment to reach out to you—the backbone of our Club. Your steadfast support and passion for our team have always been our greatest strength, and for that, we are truly grateful.

We really consider ourselves highly favoured to have the kind of supporters we have; supremely dedicated fans who really stand behind the team through thick and thin - and this support keeps growing with every season that comes. We cannot thank the Amakhosi nation enough for the great support they show us.

The past decade has brought both challenges and triumphs, reminding us of the essence of being a part of the Amakhosi family. Each matchday, I see your dedication, your songs, gold & black regalia you wear and your unwavering belief in our beloved Club. This unity is what makes us one of the most respected teams in Africa.

We see you, as supporters, purchasing of tickets to home and away games and wearing of Amakhosi merchandise; we hear your phone-ins to radio stations and posts on social media platforms. We are here because you are always there for us.

I want to assure you that our management, coaching staff, and all the players are committed to bringing you success. We understand your hopes and dreams for our team, and we share in that vision. Our focus is not only on achieving great results but also on nurturing talent, building character, and fostering a winning culture that embodies the spirit of Kaizer Chiefs.

Our Supporters Club team gave members of the board a positive report after traversing all the nine provinces - from Limpopo to the Western Cape - to meet with the leadership of the different branches. We also received all the feedback from those places, and we are aware of the need to relaunch the membership card system that all our supporters want.

We do believe there has been huge progress made in terms of securing partners that will ensure supporters receive benefits for belonging to the supporters’ club. If all goes according to plan, the launch will take place later in the new year and we all look forward to this announcement.

It would be remis of us not to address some of the moments of disappointment this year when we saw some of our supporters misbehaving during two games - in the league and Carling knockout against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB stadium, where missiles were thrown at the match officials. It is sad that we have twice been summoned to appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee so early in the season and we continue to call on supporters to refrain from engaging in violence inside the stadium, as we have children and women who should not be exposed to this intolerable behaviour. We know football is an emotional game, but it is supposed to help us de-stress and forget about life’s other problems, not create unnecessary new ones. We also have to accept that things don’t always go our way and referees don’t always get things right - it’s not the end of the world. Let us please enjoy the games in peace and harmony.

I would like to reiterate that we need to support our players and our coaches with the love and passion that defines us as a Club. Your cheers echo in the stadium and inspire our boys to perform at their very best. Let’s continue to stand together, united in our pursuit of glory.

Thank you for being the heartbeat of Kaizer Chiefs. As we approach the 55^th anniversary of this institution, together we will continue to build a legacy that we can all be proud of.

The Departed:

We also take a moment to honour the memories of those we lost this year. The mindless murder of our young defender, Luke Fleurs during a hijacking was a devastating blow for the Club and his family. It was heartbreaking to have such a promising talent, who had already represented the country, be taken away so tragically. The players were deeply affected by the sudden loss of their teammate and friend. We hope justice is served and the perpetrators are locked away for a long time.

We also lost a number of our former players and valued supporters during 2024. Their contribution and spirit will always remain etched in our hearts. I am reminded of football legends like Screamer Tshabalala, who served as a Kaizer Chiefs administrator on two occasions; Siphiwe Mkhonza, who played for us and won trophies and Peter “Fuduwa” Mokotedi, who was with Kaizer Chiefs between 1980 and 1983. We also lost a man who served the Club with dedication for many years, Richard Langa, who sadly passed away this year.

As football people, we also recognise one former player who was known as “Modimo wa bolo”, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, whose legacy continued to inspire many generations that came after him.

One significant loss we experienced has been the recent passing of our legendary and dedicated khosi4life, Jackie Masike who departed on 19 December after being hospitalised for a number of days. Affectionately known as Asinamali, he served Kaizer Chiefs with great distinction. We appreciate the comforting words from everyone during this time. As Amakhosi, we will continue to honour his legacy. He was amongst those who laid the foundation of this Club as a founding member.

Our Sponsors and Partners:

We wish to express our deep appreciation for our partnerships, which have been in existence for many years and are still going strong. Our partners have really stood by us and we enjoy the mutually beneficial relations we have with them. These include our main sponsor, Vodacom who turned 30 in 2025 and have been with us for over 25 years; our key partner, SuperSport International and betting partner, SuperSportBet; our technical sponsor, Kappa who are now in our second season with us; our medical partners, Medshield; our sleeve and vehicle sponsors Toyota, who have been amazing. We also launched the Toyota Cup in July, which was a huge success. We also have other valuable partners, such as Kaelo, Stadium Management of South Africa, Polokwane and eThekwini municipalities. We have also been able to deliver a number of great activations and corporate social investment activities with our sponsors this year. We look forward to doing more.

Our Country:

In May, we all witnessed what was arguably the most intriguing election since democracy, where South Africans voted for their different politically organisations with the view of the elected leaders taking the country forward.

We congratulate the elected leaders nationally and provincially and wish them strength and wisdom to take the country forward under the Government of National Unity.

National teams:

We congratulate our senior national team, Bafana Bafana, for finishing top of their qualifying group for the 2025 Afcon competition, which will be staged in Morocco in December 2025. We take this moment to wish the coach and the players well. We hope the team is able to go further than their very impressive third-place finish in 2024.

We also know that the team will be hard at work at trying to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in the Mexico, Canada and the United State of America. With the performances we have seen, we believe the guys will make us proud.

We also acknowledge the progress made by our ladies led by Desiree Ellis on world football. Banyana Banyana are now a force as the current African champions. We will be behind them when they go on to defend their title in the 2024 Wafcon tournament that will be hosted in Morocco in June/July.

Personal Thank You:

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the well wishes and support I received when I recently celebrated my 80^th birthday on 16 October! It was a wonderful milestone in this journey of my life, filled with joy and unforgettable moments. We can only thank God for protecting and keeping us strong.

I am genuinely thankful for each and every person who took the time to share their love and congratulations. The kind messages made the day even more special, and I am truly blessed to have such a caring people around me.

As I reflect on the past eight decades I have spent on this earth, I am filled with excitement for what lies ahead in 2025. With the support of friends, family, and colleagues, I look forward to achieving more great things and creating even more beautiful memories.

Once again, thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to celebrating more milestones and amazing adventures together!

In Conclusion:

As we look ahead to 2025, we are proud and excited to be celebrating another milestone, as the Club turns 55 years old in January. I am personally filled with optimism and anticipation for what the future holds. Let us continue to rally behind our team, for you are the heartbeat of Kaizer Chiefs. Your support fuels our passion, and together, we can achieve greatness.

Wishing you all the best for the upcoming year—may it be filled with joy, prosperity, and unforgettable moments. Thank you for being an integral part of the Kaizer Chiefs family.

All the best for the year 2025!

Dr. Kaizer Motaung

Executive Chairman