How does Phili compare to Chiefs’ recent big-name buys?
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After scoring in his second start for Kaizer Chiefs, KickOff compares Langelihle Phili’s start to previous marquee signings at Amakhosi over the last five seasons. Photo: Gallo
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How does Phili compare to Chiefs’ recent big-name buys?
Aug 17, 2026 – 11:52 am
By Thato Bosoga
Kaizer Chiefs’ new signing Langelihle Phili announced his arrival at Naturena in style, netting his first goal for the club against Mamelodi Sundowns — and it took him just his second start to get off the mark.
READ | Ex-Sundowns star hails Amakhosi’s tactical masterclass
It is a promising early sign for the Amakhosi faithful, but how does Phili’s fast start compare to the club’s other marquee signings over the last five seasons? KickOff takes a closer look.
Arriving amid much fanfare from French side Montpellier in the 2021/22 season, Dolly needed six matches before finding the back of the net for the Glamour Boys. However, the former Bafana Bafana winger went on to justify the hype, finishing the campaign with eight goals and five assists — a respectable return that suggested the wait was worth it.
Du Preez settled his nerves quickly, scoring in just his second appearance in a 3-0 win over Maritzburg United in the 2022/23 season. Unfortunately for the former Stellenbosch FC man, he suffered an injury in the same match, which hampered his momentum. He battled to nine goals and five assists by the end of the campaign — decent numbers, though somewhat overshadowed by what might have been.
READ | Chiefs’ left-back curse deepens with fresh injury blow
Chivaviro’s slow start at Chiefs was a cause for concern from the outset. The striker needed seven matches to open his account in the 2023/24 campaign, and the warning signs proved justified as he managed just four goals in his debut season — a return that fell well short of expectations for a player brought in to solve Amakhosi’s goal-scoring problems.
The Congolese striker showed early signs of being an invaluable addition after scoring in his second match following his January 2025 signing. Lilepo went on to net in three consecutive games, finishing his half-season with six goals in 15 league appearances — a promising return that suggested he was only warming up.
The former Sundowns man proved he still had something to offer after netting in only his second match for Amakhosi at the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign. However, Sirino flattered to deceive, and his eventual tally of four goals and six assists did not live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival from Chloorkop.
Silva was the gold standard for Chiefs’ recent signings, scoring on his debut in a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows last season. The Portuguese forward went on to reach 10 goals, becoming the first Amakhosi player to hit double figures since Samir Nurkovic scored 14 in the 2019/20 campaign — a benchmark Phili will now be aiming to surpass.
Phili’s two-start goal places him alongside the likes of Du Preez, Lilepo and Silva as a fast starter at Naturena. The real test, however, is whether he can sustain his early promise across a full campaign — something only Dolly and Silva have managed to do convincingly in recent seasons.