Kaizer Chiefs star attacker Ashley Du Preez believes his side can compete and win the upcoming 2025-2026 Betway Premiership championship.
With Amakhosi set to take on Du Preez’s former club, Stellenbosch FC, in their league opener this upcoming Sunday, the speedy attacker opened up about how the club needs to start in order to win the league.
“For me, personally, I couldn’t wait for the league to start. Everyone starts on a clean [slate] and write history,” Ashley Du Preez told the club’s Communications Manager Vina Maphosa.
“But I think for us as a club, I think we can start competing for the league with the first game.
“[The] first game is a tough game we are playing Stellenbosch, and I think this [season] we can compete for everything we have, for the league, for the cup games.
“We just have to from day one be 100% sure that we can compete and win the league.”
Du Preez further went on touch on his and the club’s preparations for the new season.
“Pre-season friendlies we played that side in the Netherlands was(were) amazing, we learned a lot from them, and I think we can take that to the league,” Du Preez continued.
“The way we played, the way compete against the highest level teams in Netherlands it was a good pre-season.
“We as a team, we look good together [and] in camp we have energy, we have the same mindset on what we want to achieve this season.
“So for me, I wish we can take that pre-season [performances] into the league and play every game on the highest level and compete.
“I am really excited for this season, and I am sure all the players are very excited. As a player, you need to set goals every season, and you can work towards your goals and reach high levels.”
He also touched on the new players at the club as well as young players who are promoted t9 the first team.
“You know, with the new players and young players, the young players from DDC have been doing great, so I think the coach saw what they are capable of doing,” Du Preez added.
“We as seniors are here for the young players to motivate them every day, as to let know what the club is all about and what we want to achieve together.
“So we are looking forward to the new players also coming in combining with us throughout the season, but they have been looking good all of them, and we are excited to play as a team together.
He concluded by his expectations when they face Stellies at Athlone Stadium this upcoming Sunday and how Stellies tactically played against AmaZulu FC during their last match.
“You know, for me, it’s always good playing against them, I have been playing for them, and they helped me to get where I am today.
“So it’s always nice to have a game against Stellenbosch, going to Cape Town, I am familiar with the weather, with everything in Cape Town.
“To play against Stellenbosch, it’s always exciting. Mindset is always on a high when I play Stellenbosch, 100% ready and fully focused.
“So I would love to start the season against Stellenbosch with some goals [and] so I am looking forward to playing against them.
“For me, when I look at that game, it was a 3-2 game and I think Stellenbosch played they played good and last season also they played good.
“For us it’s not gonna be an easy game, they look sharp and Stellenbosch have doing great this past season, so it’s gonna be a good game and I am looking forward to playing against them.
“They are looking good and I am sure it’s gonna be a nice game,” Du Preez concluded.