Vilakazi: My worry with Phili at Chiefs…

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Vilakazi: My worry with Phili at Chiefs…

Aug 10, 2026 – 06:14 pm
By Thato Bosoga

Orlando Pirates legend Benedict Vilakazi has revealed a ‘worry’ he has with Langelihle Phili joining Kaizer Chiefs.

Phili is arguably Chiefs’ biggest signing of the current transfer window, with his valuation to Stellenbosch seen by Amakhosi parting ways with Given Msimango and Ashley Du Preez, who were part of the deal to move the other way to the Cape Winelands outfit.

The 21-year-old winger is one of the exciting talents emerging in the PSL and a lot will be expected of him, especially after head coach Fernando da Cruz admitted that the team needs offensive reinforcements.

The Tshelimnyama-born attacker was named Stellenbosch 2025/26 Players’ Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season, Rama Fans’ Player of the Season and also won the Top goal-scorer award.

Vilakazi fears that if Phili is played in a number ten role at Chiefs, he could be over-worked, as he was critical of Da Cruz’s system of playing with a double pivot in midfield.

“My worry is I saw (Mfundo) Vilakazi on the right, I saw (Luke) Baartman on the left, I also saw (Ethan) Chislett on the left, so that means they don’t have a number ten. For me as a coach it gives me a signal to say, ‘I can’t play with one number ten and I would rather have two tens and one defensive midfielder’.

“So that if the ball goes to the left, this one on the middle left will go and assist, on the right, this one on the middle right will go and assist but when you’ve got one number ten, he needs to go chase,” Vilakazi added.