New deal for Zitha Kwinika at Kaizer Chiefs locked in

The experienced centre-back was a key member of the Amakhosi squad this season before suffering a long-term injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign in which the side finished in third place.

Prior to the setback, Kwinika had made 25 appearances across all competitions, including Kaizer Chiefs’ CAF Confederation Cup campaign, where the club narrowly missed out on progressing beyond the group stages. 

Kwinika, an academy product, rejoined Kaizer Chiefs in July 2022 from Stellenbosch FC, where he had captained the side and won the club’s Player of the Season award before returning to Naturena. 

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Although he endured periods of limited game time and was at one stage believed to be heading for an exit, the defender revived his Chiefs career last season under former coach Nasreddine Nabi.  

It’s the injuries within the squad that opened the door for his comeback into the starting line-up, ultimately earning him a one-year extension. 

The public broadcaster can now reveal that the 32-year-old has agreed to another new deal and will remain at Chiefs next season under a yet-to-be-appointed head coach following the departures of Cedri Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.  

Kwinika is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the new campaign and remains highly regarded within the squad as one of the club’s senior leaders and part of the leadership group alongside goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.