Kaizer Chiefs Appoint Fernando Da Cruz as New Head Coach

The French tactician has signed a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further year, taking over from the interim coaching duo of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.

Da Cruz is no stranger to Amakhosi, having briefly worked with the club during pre-season under former head coach Nasreddine Nabi two years ago. He subsequently moved to the Moroccan Football Federation, where he served as Technical Director.

The Soweto giants have also strengthened their technical team with the addition of Egyptian coach Mahmoud Abbas as assistant coach, while Julien Le Heran joins the club’s sports science department.

According to the club, Abbas will oversee the team’s return to pre-season training on Thursday, 18 June, with Da Cruz expected to join the squad within the next two weeks.

Abbas, 54, brings a wealth of experience to Naturena. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence and previously guided AS FAR Rabat to the 2022/23 Botola Pro League title. He has also worked alongside renowned Argentine coach Marco Bielsa during his time at Lille.

His experience, winning mentality, and extensive knowledge of African football are expected to play an important role as the Glamour Boys prepare for their CAF Confederation Cup campaign next season.

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