Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premiership. The team is nicknamed AmaKhosi, which means 'Kings' or 'Chiefs' in Zulu, and the Phefeni Glamour Boys. They hold the most trophies amongst all clubs in South Africa and are the most successful team in South African football history since the start of the top flight in 1970.
The team has a strong local rivalry, the Soweto derby, with Orlando Pirates, a fellow Soweto team that Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung played for in his early playing career. Famous players who donned the black-and-gold jersey in the past include former national team captains Neil Tovey and Lucas Radebe as well as Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Gary Bailey, John "Shoes" Moshoeu, Dayson Balzani, Shaun Bartlett, Steve Komphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, Doctor Khumalo, and Siphiwe Tshabalala.
It is the most supported team in South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs had a support base of over 16 million at the turn of the century. They drew an average home attendance of 16,144 in the 2019–20 season, the highest in the league. The team plays many of its home matches at the 94,797-capacity FNB Stadium. In January 2026, Kaizer Chiefs celebrated their 56th anniversary.
Contents
History
Kaizer Chiefs FC was founded in January 1970 shortly after the return of Kaizer "Chincha Guluva" Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name of Kaizer Chiefs. Several other people have played key roles in the formation and growth of Kaizer Chiefs, including the late Gilbert Sekgabi, Clarence Mlokoti, China Ngema, Ewert "The Lip" Nene, and Rabelani Jan Mofokeng, he trailed and quit because of work. Club manager Bobby Motaung, son of Kaizer Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung, has been a key figure in the administration, recruitment and strategic direction of the club since the 1990s.
Kaizer Chiefs are known as "Amakhosi" by its fans, a Zulu word meaning "kings" or "chiefs". Their headquarters is Kaizer Chiefs Village six kilometres south of Johannesburg.
The 2001–02 season was one of the Club's most successful in their history as well as their most tragic. They won four major trophies in four months; the Vodacom Challenge, the BP Top Eight, the Coca-Cola Cup, and the African Cup Winners' Cup. At the time the team was said to have been a team that was on "Operation vat alles" by its then public relations officer Putco Mafani, "vat alles" being an Afrikaans statement meaning "take everything" in English. However, the highs of cup wins was contrasted by the lows of the Ellis Park Stadium disaster on 11 April 2001, in which 43 fans were crushed to death during the Soweto Derby between Chiefs and their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.
By winning the African Cup Winners' Cup, Chiefs played the 2001 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the 2002 CAF Super Cup. In April 2002, Kaizer Chiefs' achievements during 2001 were recognized as they were chosen as the "CAF Club of the Year" by the Confederation of African Football.
In the 2003–04 season Chiefs were given the Fair Play Award at the Peace Cup in South Korea. Chiefs ended the season as league champions, winning the Premiership for the first time in their history.
During the championship race of the 2004–05 soccer season, Chiefs overtook the season-long leaders (Orlando Pirates) in the last game of the season to defend its PSL championship. Under the leadership of Romanian coach Ted Dumitru, Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma had a record-breaking season scoring 39 goals in all competitions.
Stadium
Amakhosi Stadium
The Amakhosi have used no less than nine stadiums in Johannesburg as their home ground, and often rotated between several stadiums during the season. In August 2006, the club decided to develop their own stadium, the Amakhosi Stadium. However, this project has stalled.
FNB Stadium/Soccer City
FNB Stadium is a stadium located in Johannesburg, with a capacity of 94,736 seats. It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters (SAFA House), where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is housed.
The Soweto Derby
The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a rivalry dating back to 1970, and in contrast to most other games in the South African Premiership, always attracts a large fanbase.
Honours
PSL Reserve League
Champions (1): 2025
Awards
CAF Awards
African Club of the Year 2001
Performance in CAF Competitions
Kaizer Chiefs qualified to play for the 1997 CAF Champions League but withdrew from the competition. The team made their first CAF Cup appearance in the year 2000 and only made it to the round of 16. They had the same result in the 2005 CAF Champions League and 2014 CAF Champions League. In the 2018 edition of the CAF Confederations Cup, Kaizer Chiefs reached the playoff round of 30 in which they were eliminated. Kaizer Chiefs are the runner-ups of the 2020-21 CAF Champions League and the 2002 CAF Super Cup after being crowned the Champions of the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup.
Chiefs were banned by the African Football (CAF) from competing in African club competitions until 2009 after their abrupt withdrawal from the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup. This was the second time in four years that Chiefs had been penalized by CAF for refusal to participate in a competition.
Kaizer Chiefs' appearances in African competitions
CAF Champions league = 5 appearance(s)
CAF Confederations Cup = 3 appearance(s)
CAF Super Cup = 1appearance(s)
African Cup Winners' Cup = 3 appearance(s)
CAF Cup = 1 appearance(s)
Club Ranking
Kaizer Chiefs are ranked 30th on the CAF 5-year ranking for the 2024-25 CAF club Season.
Crest and colours
Club records
Most appearances – Doctor Khumalo 497
Most appearances in a season – Neil Tovey 52 (1992)
Most goals in a season (all competitions) – Collins Mbesuma – 35 2004/05
Record win – 9-1 vs Manning Rangers (Coca-Cola Challenge – 23 March 1996)
Record loss – 1-5 vs AmaZulu (League – 08/06/86), Orlando Pirates (League – 03/11/90), Mamelodi Sundowns (League – 02/05/2024)
Personnel
Players
As of 21 August 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Notable former players
For all Kaizer Chiefs players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players
Kaiser Chiefs
British indie-rock band Kaiser Chiefs named themselves after the club. The band, from Leeds, reportedly chose the name—slightly altering the spelling—as a nod to South African centre-back Lucas Radebe, a beloved captain at Leeds United who played for the club for 11 years.
Rugby
In 2012, Kaizer Chiefs registered a rugby sevens team to participate in the inaugural 7s Premier League.