Chiefs must 'suffer now, enjoy later' in intense Dutch pre-season, says Petersen

Kaizer Chiefs’ goalkeeper Brandon Petersen says they must “suffer now, enjoy later” as they endure an intense pre-season camp in The Netherlands.

Chiefs have been in Apeldoorn, in the east of the country, since Friday, working hard through demanding training and gym sessions.

“It’s now pre-season, where we lay the foundation,” Petersen told the Chiefs’ media team. “It’s when we suffer and sweat now, so that we can shine later.”

It’s the second consecutive pre-season camp Chiefs have held in Europe, after touring Turkey last winter.

Following a season in which their preparations only delivered the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs are leaving nothing to chance in the Netherlands, aiming to challenge for everything next season. They are putting their money where their mouth is — not only through intense training sessions, but also by basing themselves in a quieter, more focused environment.

Their base in the secluded town of Apeldoorn is approximately 80km from Amsterdam. The capital’s hustle and bustle might have distracted the squad, something Petersen knows well, having visited Amsterdam in his youth.

“I think I’ve been here a couple of times when I was in the junior ranks with Ajax – but we spent a lot of time in Amsterdam,” Petersen recalled.

“But coming here to Apeldoorn, it’s beautiful. Very green. You can feel the oxygen. Obviously, we’ve been blessed with some nice rain.

"The area is very nice. It’s quiet.

"You can just focus on your craft, go to training and work hard. The hotel we are staying in is amazing – people are welcoming.

“It’s been nice staying here, there’s nice food, which is important, especially at this time of the season – your body needs to recover.

“I think all aspects have been taken care of (by the club). So it’s just for us to focus on our football and prepare for the start of the new season.”

It’s crucial that Chiefs are at their best next season. Last season’s Nedbank Cup triumph has whetted their appetite for further silverware.

“I think lifting the trophy last season was a major boost for us. It was something that we really needed,” Petersen said.

“We didn’t have the best season, but I think it was a silver lining for us. So, that can be our building block for the next season.

“We can use that as fuel because you can see the hunger and determination in the players’ faces—especially after winning that trophy. They want more success.”

The club has moved to strengthen the squad with six new signings so far this transfer window. The arrivals include Ethan Chislett, Flavio Silva, Nkanyiso Shinga, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane.

The quartet of Chislett, Silva, Shinga and Monyane have been spotted with their team-mates in the Netherlands, while Ndlovu signed on Saturday and Mako is reportedly injured.

Chiefs will play the first of their five pre-season training matches against Dutch first-division side Vitesse on Tuesday at Sportpark Driel in Driel (kick-off 7pm).

Some of the new signings are set to make their debuts for the team, as coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team begin to shape the side.

“We know most of the younger boys, we’ve seen them play and trained with them a few times, so it’s exciting to see them playing with us in the first team,” Petersen said.

“Obviously, with the new guys, it’s exciting. I am looking forward to the friendlies that we are going to be playing, where people will actually see a glimpse of them.”