You don’t get better playing weaker teams, says Matlou on Kaizer Chiefs’ tough pre-season

Kaizer Chiefs remain winless on their pre-season tour of The Netherlands after suffering a third consecutive defeat, this time a narrow 1-0 loss to NEC Nijmegen on Saturday afternoon.

The Glamour Boys had previously gone down to Dutch top-flight sides Vitesse and FC Utrecht.  While the lack of goals and results may raise questions back home, there is no panic within the camp. 

Instead, the focus remains squarely on long-term gains and sharpening the team ahead of a crucial 2025/26 campaign.

“I hate losing,” George Matlou told the club’s media department, after the match. 

“However, these are highly competitive games, and that’s how you get better as a team. You don’t get better playing weaker teams.”

Matlou’s words echoed the broader sentiment from the Chiefs squad and technical staff — that this European tour is less about results and more about building a competitive, battle-tested unit capable of challenging both locally and on the continent.

The clash against NEC saw Chiefs put in a more organised and disciplined shift.  Although they still came out second best, their shape and transitions showed clear improvement from the earlier friendlies. 

Against FC Utrecht — a side preparing for Uefa Europa League qualifiers next week — and Vitesse, Chiefs struggled for rhythm, but Saturday’s performance was a step in the right direction.

“We’re getting to know each other,” Matlou continued. 

“We are improving on when to press, where to press, how to press. These are all key elements we’re working on during this phase. We are Kaizer Chiefs — we don’t like losing, but this process is vital.”

Defensively, there were positives to take. Centre-back Aden McCarthy again looked composed alongside Miguel, with the duo forming a promising partnership.

“It was a really tough encounter,” said McCarthy. 

“NEC are a strong team in the Dutch league. The way they pressed and moved the ball tested us, but it was great to experience that level.”

He added: “We understand each other very well at the back. Sometimes we don’t even need to talk — we know what to do, and that chemistry is growing.”

Chiefs’ structure didn’t go unnoticed in the stands. Former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Alje Schut, now head of scouting at FC Utrecht, was among those observing the match.

“The two central defenders really performed well,” Schut noted. 

“Chiefs played organised football. But at this level, small details matter — and that’s how the goal came. These are moments they’ll learn from.”

Chiefs will wrap up their Dutch tour this coming Saturday, and while pre-season isn’t judged by wins alone, Matlou made it clear that the team is hungry to finish on a high.

“We definitely want to win that one,” he said. “It’s been tough, but we’re learning, improving and growing every day.”