Watch Caleb Bimenyimana burns his bridges with Chiefs video

Caleb Bimenyimana after bagging a hat-trick vs Stellenbosch. © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs: All 12 trialists at Naturena so far

Kaizer Chiefs are putting players through their paces at Naturena to see if they’re a proper fit for the Glamour Boys ethos.

Watch Caleb Bimenyimana burns his bridges with Chiefs video

Caleb Bimenyimana after bagging a hat-trick vs Stellenbosch. © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has defended the club’s policy of putting players through extensive trials before signing talent.

The policy to give trials to players has caused quite a stir around the country but they’re sticking to it.

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Let’s have a look at all 12 players who have recently trialled at Naturena, which included two players that earned first-team contracts.

12 Kaizer Chiefs trialists

  • 🇨🇩 Christian Saile Basomboli
  • 🇭🇺 Bálint Bajner
  • 🇲🇿 Amânsio “Neymar” Canhembe
  • 🇿🇦 Darren Smith
  • 🇲🇿 Stanley Ratifo
  • 🇩🇪 Maurizio Macorig
  • 🇨🇲 Julien Ebah
  • 🇸🇹 Jardel Rodrigues Afonso Nazaré
  • 🇲🇿 Edmilson Dove
  • 🇧🇮 Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana
  • 🇿🇦 Wayde Lekay
  • 🇿🇦 Bradley Cross

Mozambican central defender Edmilson Dove and Burnidian striker Caleb are both integral first-team regulars, proof that the policy can work.

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Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane looking cool in the heat. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter

A background to the Kaizer Chiefs trial approach

Coach Zwane says that Kaizer Chiefs is no ordinary club and they need to properly assess whether a player will fit into their environment. The 49-year-old says the days of Amakhosi not doing their due diligence on players are in the past.

“In terms of the trialists, in the past we would just see a good player [and sign them]. But of late we are profiling players and I know people don’t understand this. And maybe if I explain it further they will understand why we came up with this idea,” Zwane said according to Times LIVE.

Kaizer Chiefs Naturena Village
Kaizer Chiefs Naturena Village in all its glory. Image: Ernest Makhaya

“We can’t just bring any player because Kaizer Chiefs is a beast and it is not just another team that you can play for and easily settle.

“We wanted to see a lot of things from the players.

Zwane adds: “We wanted to see if they can cope with our high-intensity sessions that are highly explosive and also to see how he settles when he is at the Village.”


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You can get more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game from James Freemantle

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